Annual Business Awards
More than 300 Amelia Island-Fernandina Beach-Yulee Chamber of Commerce members and community leaders turned out to celebrate excellence by the local business community in 2011 during the Chamber’s Annual Awards Dinner Friday, January 13, 2012 at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation.
“The Annual Awards Dinner is a time for the Chamber to come together and not only look back at the accomplishments of the previous year, but also generate enthusiasm for the year ahead,” said 2012 Chamber Board of Directors Chairwoman Pamela Brown of Edward Jones Investments.
Sponsored by The Brumos Companies, Comcast Business Class, JetBlue and the Omni Amelia Island Plantation, the Annual Awards Dinner also included the presentation of an Honorary Lifetime Membership to Jim Mayo, past president of the Amelia Island-Fernandina Beach-Yulee Chamber of Commerce.
Mayo retired from Baptist Medical Center Nassau at the end of 2011 after serving as hospital president since 1994. He also was named the 2011 Business Leader of the Year.
Thirty member businesses were nominated for 2011 business awards, while 15 members were nominated for 2011 individual awards.
Nominations for the Businesses of the Year, Customer Service Professional and Business Leaders awards were made by Chamber members and staff as well as members of the public. Winners were selected by vote of the Chamber Board of Directors.They were evaluated on how they fulfilled the Chamber’s mission to promote responsible economic growth, employment opportunities, government and excellence in education and quality of life.
The Annual Awards Dinner also included the presentation of awards honoring Chamber volunteers for their work on behalf of the organization.
- Ambassador of the Year Award, honoring a member of the Chamber’s corps of volunteer Ambassadors;
- Chairman’s Award, given to a Chamber Board of Directors member for outstanding service on behalf of the Chamber; and
- Dr. Harry Halley Bowtie Award for Distinguished Service, bestowed annually on a longtime Chamber supporter.
The 2011 Amelia Island-Fernandina Beach-Yulee Chamber of Commerce Award recipients are:
Ambassador of the Year
Linda Winston, Florida Public Utilities
Chairman’s Award
Bill Moore, Omni Amelia Island Plantation
Dr. Harry Halley Bowtie Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service
Janie Thomas, Shrimp Producers Association
Customer Service Professional of the Year
Renee Stoffel, Savannah Grand of Amelia Island
Large Business of the Year
The Home Depot
Medium Business of the Year
Pepper’s Mexican Grill & Cantina in Fernandina Beach
Small Business of the Year
The Hurst Company, CPAs, PA
Green Business of the Year
Advanced Disposal
Young Business Leader of the Year
Noelle Perry, The Hurst Company, CPAs, PA
Business Leader of the Year
Jim Mayo, Baptist Medical Center Nassau
Three outgoing Chamber Directors who completed their terms in 2011 also were honored at the event: Paul Audet of The Surf Restaurant & Bar, Phil Kelly of Amelia Islander Magazine and Sean McGill of McGill Aviation.
Donald J. Hughes, executive director of the Florida State College at Jacksonville Betty P. Cook Nassau Center, served as master of ceremonies for the Annual Awards.
Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance Foundation, Amelia River Golf Club, Amelia Shotgun Sports, The Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach, Hampton Inn Amelia Island at Fernandina Beach, JetBlue, Kayak Amelia, Le Clos Restaurant, Old Towne Carriage Company, Omni Amelia Island Plantation, P5 Productions, Residence Inn Amelia Island, Sliders Seaside Grill and Whataburger donated raffle prizes given away at the Annual Awards Dinner.
B&B Graphic Designs created the award plaques. Mead’s Framery & Trophy Store created the Outgoing Director plaques. Additional support was provided by Amelia Island Graphics, Amelia Island Photo Art, AVT Event Technologies and the Jacksonville Aviation Authority.
See who we spotted!
The 2011 AIFBY Award Nominees were:
Large Business of the Year (25 employees or more)
Advanced Disposal
Anytime Fitness
Baptist Medical Center Nassau
First Federal Bank of Florida
The Home Depot
Publix
Savannah Grand of Amelia Island
Sliders Seaside Grill
Medium Business of the Year (11-24 employees)
Amelia River Golf Club
Angel Watch Home Care
Coastal Vision Center
Nader’s Pest Raiders
New York Nails
Palm III Realty
Pepper’s Mexican Grill & Cantina [Fernandina Beach]
San Jose Mexican Grill
Shapiro Insurance
Springer Controls Co.
Whataburger
Small Business of the Year (10 employees or fewer)
A1A Wealth Management
Amelia Concierges
Amelia River Cruises
Bliss Cupcakery
The Hurst Company, CPAs, PA
Johnny's Electric
Murphy Beds of Florida
Nuanz Coffee Roasters & Tea Merchants
Putt Putt of Fernandina Beach
Green Business of the Year
A1A Solar Contracting
Advanced Disposal
Kayak Amelia
Customer Service Professional of the Year
Pam Austin, First Federal Bank of Florida [Fernandina Beach]
Cathy Hagan, Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida
Carla Harden, Shapiro Insurance Group
Jessica Miller, Fifi’s Fine Resale Apparel
Renee Stoffel, Savannah Grand of Amelia Island
Young Business Leader of the Year
Jennifer Johnston, Dance Trance Amelia Island
Tracy McQuade, Fluid Kinetics
Noelle Perry, The Hurst Company, CPAs, PA
Bruce Wilder, Johnny's Electric
Mike Zaffaroni, FastSigns and Fernandina Beach Mulch & Stone
Business Leader of the Year
Robert Hartman, Residence Inn Amelia Island
Jim Mayo, Baptist Medical Center Nassau
Mike Mickler, First Federal Bank of Florida
Joel Shapiro, Shapiro Insurance Group
George Sheffield,The Palace Saloon and Amelia River Golf Club