Washington County Economic Alliance celebrated a year of success Tuesday evening during the annual meeting at the Washington County Convention Center.
Ryan Ashley, WCEA board chair, welcomed guests to the night of fun and fellowship.
“I’m proud to be a volunteer part of this organization to help ensure a brighter tomorrow for the Delta communities we call home,” Ashely said. “ I encourage you to be part of this success. I belive we all have a responsibility to grow our community together and know that we can use the many talents in our communities to achieve our best.”
Awards given at the event were:
• Small Business, Farmers Grain Terminal Inc.
• Larry Carazvan Volunteer, Brain Street - Farm Bureau Insurance Company
• Betty Lynn Cameron Ambassador, Vonikki Williams - Greenville Public School District
Chuck Jordan Award, Joe Nash - Delta Group & Ayres/Delta Implement, Inc and Carl McGee - President of the Board of Supervisors for Washington County
• Peter Watzek Award, Carol Cashion Doolittle - President of Delta Cotton Belles
The Business Showcase & A Taste of Washington County was held during the meeting, with more than 35 chamber businesses represented.
“It is an opportunity for members to showcase thier business, their products and services,” Cary Karlson, WCEA executive director, said.
The annual meeting brings between 500 to 600 guest each year.
“This is really an opportunity to meet and visit with others – to network– in a relaxed, fun, entertaining environment,” he said.
Entertainment this year was provided by Leslie Norris Townsend, who delivered agriculture humor from a decidedly different perspective.
Townsend moved from Hollywood to rural Ohio to live and work on her family's 100-year-old farm. She opened her act in song, changing some lyrics of “Dancing in the Street” to reflect Greenville. Townsend coerced the audience into “sweet laugher” as she danced among the tables on her way to the stage.
“Every year we do some type of entertainment for 45 minutes,” Karlson said. “Our theme has been ‘Let’s Grow Together’ and with Leslie’s comedy centered around agriculture, we thought it fit well with what we have been focused on as an organization, as well as be a topic that resonates in our community.”
Fifteen local restaurants provided samples of food at the meeting.
Karlson gave highlights from the past year during the meeting, which included Nufarm’s announcement of a $20 million investment and the creation of 68 jobs and the development of a Tru Hilton 84-room hotel.
Karlson also brough attention to the ACT Work Ready Community certification, which is the first county in the nation to meet the second level of certification.
Team members at WCEA were also recognized.
Will Coppage was promoted to the position of Deputy Director in October; Kay Sipes was hired in January as the Chamber Director; and Angelica Richards was hired as the AmeriCorps Training Coordinator in January.
