Lexington Chamber Expands, Glamorizes Awards Event

The Greater Lexington Chamber and Visitor Center's annual awards event has expanded this year, thanks to community and business growth. 

The Small Business Celebration, which honors the Small Business Person of the Year, has been expanded and renamed to recognize winners in three other categories.

The new Chamber Awards Celebration will honor a Business of the Year and Young Professional of the Year, as well as a Small Business Person of the Year. A fourth award will honor the memory of Mike Till, a beloved leader in the Chamber and Lexington community.

“We’re not your grandfather’s Lexington anymore,” said Randy Halfacre, president and CEO of the chamber. “We’ve got close to 1,000 member businesses, and while most of them are small, many are not. A few of them—Michelin, Lexington Medical Center, and Amazon, for instance—are huge. This event lets us keep our tradition of honoring a small business person and our larger deserving members too.”

Scheduled for Feb. 12 at the Lexington Municipal Complex, the Chamber Awards Celebration is being patterned after the Academy Awards. Television personality Tyler Ryan will emcee the black tie-optional event, which will feature a red carpet cocktail reception with flashing cameras, elegant buffet, and awards ceremony.

“Many of our members missed the glamor of our annual gala, which was replaced by the more casual Oyster Roast Down by the River,” said Sondra Gettys, the chamber's sponsorship and events manager. “The Chamber Awards Celebration will bring back that glitz. This is a fun way to recognize some of our most outstanding members.”

One thing that will stay the same is the Centerpiece Competition, which allows members to showcase their businesses by designing creative table decorations. Prizes are awarded for the centerpieces, which are used as door prizes later in the evening.

Nominations for the awards, which are for chamber members only, are due Feb. 1. To nominate a business, young professional (40 years or younger) or small business person, visit the chamber's website, www.lexingtonsc.org, and download a nomination form.

Entry forms for the centerpiece competition are on the website as well. Centerpiece forms are due Feb. 8.

The Chamber Awards Celebration is presented by Southern First. Tickets are $25 per person.

To reserve tickets, call 803-359-6113 or order online.

Submitted by Aida Rogers, visitors and information coordinator for the Greater Lexington Chamber and Visitors Center.