Rockwall Chamber honors Partners at Awards Banquet

ROCKWALL (February 19, 2014) The Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed more than 375 Chamber Partners to Southern Junction Steakhouse February 18^th for the Boots ‘n Business Annual Awards & Partner Appreciation Banquet.

In addition to the awards presentation, guests enjoyed a flame-grilled steak and chicken dinner, line dance lessons and live entertainment by Big in Vegas and Woody Lee.

“The Chamber’s annual banquet provides us the opportunity to outline how we intend to lead the community forward in 2014,” said Dana K Macalik, President of the Rockwall Area Chamber. “We have made great strides in recent years, and we look forward to accelerating the momentum of economic growth in our thriving community. There is no better way to get things started than with our largest gathering of Chamber Partners last night.”

Greg Beauchamp with Christ Church gave the welcome and invocation. Outgoing Chamber Chairman of the Board, Cindy Paris of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall, recognized outgoing Directors Kevin Fowler, Cheryl Dunlop and Bryan Pope. Incoming Chairman Lou Johnson, Senior VP with American National Bank Wealth Management Group/Trust Services, introduced the 2014 Board of Directors.

“This year’s banquet marks the 85^th anniversary of the Rockwall Area Chamber, and it is a particularly important event,” said Johnson. “Economic potential and momentum are terms that have depicted the Rockwall area since the early 60’s when the lake was built and we became known as the New Horizon; but 2014 marks the next step in seeing Rockwall begin to realize its potential.”

Kevin Fowler presented the awards, which went to: Rockwall ISD, Chamber Partner of the Year; Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall, Corporate Business Partner of the Year; Blue Ribbon News, Small Business Partner of theYear; Honda Cars of Rockwall, New & Emerging Business of the Year; Special Products & Manufacturing, Best Practices in Community Involvement; Dorothy Spradlin, Spirit of Rockwall; James Nelson, Director of the Year; Brad Chilcote, Ambassador of the Year; and Cheryl Dunlop with the City of Rockwall, Lifetime Achievement Award.

Nominees included My Computer Guy and Texas Media Pros for Small Business Partner of the Year; Blue Ribbon News and Nichols Wealth Management for New and Emerging Business of the Year; American National Bank and My Computer Guy for Best Practices in Community Involvement; Tim Nichols and Stephen Straughan for Spirit of Rockwall.

The Chamber also had the honor of presenting the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Spirit of Enterprise Award to Congressman Ralph Hall for his support of pro-business legislation during the second session of the 112^th Congress. Congressman Hall is Chairman Emeritus of the Science, Space and Technology Committee and Senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Senator Bob Deuell was recognized as a Champion for Free Enterprise, the highest honor that a legislator can receive from the Texas Association of Business, based upon votes cast affecting businesses in Texas.

This year’s event was sponsored by Alliance Bank; American National Bank of Texas/American National Bank Trust; BB&T; City of Rockwall; Farmers Electric Cooperative; Ebby Halliday Realtors; Honda Cars; Lake Pointe Medical Center/Lake Pointe Health Network; Law Office of David G. Couch; Liberty Heights; Linebarger,Goggan, Blair & Sampson LLP; MidSouth Bank; My Computer Guy; My Guardian for Life; Office of Congressman Ralph Hall; Premier Audio & Video; Resourcing Edge; Rock Ridge Assisted Living and Memory Care Community; Rockwall Economic Development Corporation; Rockwall ISD; Special Products & Manufacturing; Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall; Texas Title/Vice & Henley Law Firm; TrackerSoft, LLP; Tobacco Box; and Weight Off for Life. Thank you also to our host, Southern Junction!