Rockwall Chamber honors top businesses at Annual Awards Banquet

Can we get a Yee-Haw?!

ROCKWALL, TX (Feb. 5, 2015) All manner of western wear, fun photo ops, appetizing steak dinners, country tunes and some crazy dance moves made the Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Annual Awards and Partner Appreciation Banquet a night to remember.

More than 300 guests were in attendance Tuesday night, as the Matthew Middleton Band and Texas Drive provided the live, boot-scootin’ entertainment at Southern Junction Steakhouse. Cavender’s Boots, with a location opening soon in Rockwall, was the event’s Title Sponsor. Kevin Fowler served as emcee, as the Rockwall Chamber honored several top businesses and individuals with its 2014 awards.

Nominees and winners of the evening for each category include the following (winners and awards are in bold):

Best Practices in Community Involvement Award, showcasing a company that demonstrates a commitment to community involvement and philanthropy as part of their core business values:

Alliance Bank, Heath Salon and Spa, My Computer Guy, QBall Design, Toyota of Rockwall 

Best Practices in Customer Service Award, for the business that continually strives to exceed customer expectations, delivering industry-leading levels of service and are creative and innovative around customer experience:

Christian Brothers Automotive, Hormonal Health and Wellness, Rest Haven Funeral Home and Memorial, Rod HollandReal Estate – Keller Williams, Simply Kate 

Emerging Business of the Year Award, recognizing a new and emerging company with a capacity for creativity and innovation, which has experienced growth and established itself as a leader in its industry as well as demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit and overall contribution to the community:

Britt’s Training Systems, English Insurance Group, Guild Mortgage, Interstate All Battery Center, Lonestar Transfer

Corporate Business Partner of the Year Award, honoring an organization that has made a significant impact on our area and within the Chamber through leadership, marketing and strategic alliances, charitable (sponsorship) contributions to the Chamber and overall community development for the greater Rockwall area, all while demonstrating outstanding business success:

American National Bank, Atmos Energy, Honda Cars of Rockwall, Lake Pointe Medical Center, ONCOR, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital – Rockwall

Medium Size Business Partner of the Year Award, recognizing a business for integrating excellence and commitment to quality as a core value and point of reference into its business structure, as well as participation in community and Chamber-oriented projects, a proven track record, growth and sustainability, and a commitment to quality:

Christian Care Centers, Ebby Halliday Realtors, Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP, MidSouth Bank, Special Products and Manufacturing, Inc.

Small Business Partner of the Year Award, recognizing a business with less than 10 employees for their accomplishments and operations successes, integrating excellence and commitment to quality as a core value and point of reference into its business structure, participation in community and Chamber-oriented projects, a proven track record, growth and sustainability, and a commitment to quality:

My Computer Guy, Regal Realtors, Sail With Scott, Timpa Law, Willis Fine Jewelry

Ambassador of the Year Award, given to the Chamber Ambassador who earned the most credits through volunteerism and participation in the given year gathering feedback for the Chamber, answering members’ questions, guiding new members, retaining existing members, handling ceremonial duties such as Ribbon Cuttings, and acting as a Chamber advocate in the community:

Dorothy Spradlin

The Spirit of Rockwall Award, honoring a person whose character, conduct, service, leadership and achievements – personally and professionally – contribute to the current and future development for the Rockwall community:

Sheila Hair, Dorothy Spradlin, Kevin Fowler, Dawn Redig, David Sweet

Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring an individual who has made a significant impact on the Rockwall area for unprecedented devotion and generosity of time, talent and commitment to the business community of Rockwall County:

Scott Self, Cindy Tayem, Sandra Doyle, Tom Ryan

Chamber Partner of the Year Award, the top achievement award recognizing a business based on their involvement in and support of critical community issues, enhancing the economy of the Rockwall area through the successful and profitable operation of their organization and exhibiting outstanding community support:

Rockwall Economic Development Corporation

Board of Director of the Year Award, for the individual who has demonstrated leadership within his/her business and/or industry and applied it to the Chamber, as well as enhancing the Chamber’s brand, programs and services with their innovative leadership:

Rob Grand-Lienard

The awards ceremony also included an impromptu offer by Mesquite Pro Rodeo co-owner Terry Dickerson. He auctioned off one of rodeo’s suites, which Rusty Wallis purchased for $7,500. Mesquite Pro Rodeo will donate the proceeds back to the Chamber.

The Chamber also recognized the 2014 outgoing Board of Directors (see image immediately below) and welcomed the incoming members of the Board (see list below following our Photo Gallery).

All of the Corporate Table Sponsors for the event were recognized with a special video presentation. Corporate Table Sponsors included the following:

AJ Bedford Group, Alliance Bank, American National Bank, Atmos Energy, Christian Care Centers, City of Rockwall, Conway Companies CPA, Ebby Halliday Realtors, English Insurance, Guild Mortgage Company, Highland Meadows, Home Helpers & Direct Link of Rockwall, Honda Cars of Rockwall, Lake Pointe Medical Center, Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP, Lonestar Transfer, MidSouth Bank, Mishler Builders, Nichols Wealth Management, Rayburn Electric, Regal Realtors, Rockwall County Helping Hands, Rockwall Economic Development Corporation, Rockwall Independent School District, Rod Holland Real Estate – Keller Williams, Rusty Wallis Honda, Simply Kate, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital – Rockwall, The Timpa Law Office, Vice & Henley, PL. Special thanks to Title Sponsor Cavender’s Boots.

Dana Macalik, Chamber president, was thrilled with the success of the event. “The banquet is held each year to celebrate the Chamber’s past year, as well as to look forward to things to come in 2015,” she said. 2014 marked the 85th year for the Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce.

By Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News staff writer and reporter.

Click on images below to enlarge and view more photos from this event!

Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce

2015 Board of Directors

Executive Committee

Dana Macalik, President, Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce
Mike Mishler, Chair, Mishler Builders, Inc.
David Mallard, Chair-Elect, Law Offices of David S. Mallard
Lou Johnson, Past Chair, ANB Wealth Mgmt Group/Trust Services
Stewart Storms, Treasurer, American National Bank
Cindy Tayem, Secretary, Oncor Electric Delivery

Board of Directors

Jon Bailey, Rockwall County Helping Hands
Liz Beauchamp, Atmos Energy Corporation
Jay Bedford, AJ Bedford Group
Adolfo Benavides, Texas A&M University – Commerce
Robin Chouteau, Honda Cars of Rockwall
Mike Conway, Conway Company CPAs, PC
Rob Grand-Lienard, Special Products & Mfg., Inc.
Rod Holland, Rod Holland Real Estate – Keller Williams
Lance Holmes, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall
Brenda Kennedy, Ebby Halliday Realtors
Brett Lee, Lake Pointe Medical Center/Lake Pointe Health Network
Shane Lewis, FourSquare Healthcare
Mark Moeller, Rockwall Police Department
Timothy Nichols, Nichols Wealth Management
Richard Redig, Blue Ribbon News
Kim Timpa, The Timpa Law Office

Ex-Officio Directors

David Sweet, Rockwall County Judge
Dennis Bailey, Rockwall County Commissioner
Cliff Sevier, Rockwall County Commissioner
Lee Gilbert, Rockwall County Commissioner
David Magness, Rockwall County Commissioner
Jim Pruitt, Mayor, City of Rockwall
Bethany Browning, Main Street Manager, City of Rockwall
Sheri Franza, President, Rockwall Economic Development Corporation
Jeff Bailey, Superintendent of Schools, Rockwall ISD

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