The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama assembled hundreds of businessmen and women, elected officials, nonprofit administrators and more Thursday for their 124th annual dinner and awards presentation recognizing some of our community's most civic-minded leaders.

The event was hosted in the Bryant Conference Center by Chamber President and CEO Kyle South and Jheovanny Gomez, the 2024 chair of the Chamber’s board of directors and the owner of the area's four Jalapeños restaurants.

This year's presenting sponsor was presented by Northport Sports Development, LLC, the company partnering with the city to plan and open River Run Park, their almost-finished baseball and softball complex.

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(Stephen Dethrage | Tuscaloosa Thread)
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The night's biggest honor is the Charles H. Land Member of the Year Award, which was given to Tim Harrison of Harrison Construction Company.

"Not many people know that Tim’s involvement is so huge,” Gomez said. “So well deserved. We are a better community because of him.”

(Stephen Dethrage | Tuscaloosa Thread)
(Stephen Dethrage | Tuscaloosa Thread)
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The Chamber gave its third Honorable Richard C. Shelby Leadership Award to Fitzgerald Washingtonwho recently retired as Alabama's Labor Secretary. The award was introduced in 2023 in honor of former US Senator Richard Shelby, who spent 36 years bringing contracts, grants and more home to Alabama from his office in D.C.

The Robert C. Tanner Corporate Service Award, which recognizes the corporate leadership, philanthropic efforts and community service by a member entity in the West  Alabama region, was presented to Phifer Incorporated.

The Ambassador of the Year Award was presented to Tera Batayneh of RiverFall Credit Union.

The Diverse Business Council Trailblazer Award was presented to Erica Grant of The Charm District, a cosmetology school on Greensboro Avenue which celebrated its ribbon-cutting last week.

(Stephen Dethrage | Tuscaloosa Thread)
(Stephen Dethrage | Tuscaloosa Thread)
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The Nonprofit of the Year Award was presented to Turning Point, a critical resource for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Two Distinguished Service Awards were given to individuals for their service and leadership - Matt Feller of BF Goodrich and Dr. Karen Thompson-Jackson of Temporary Emergency Services.

The Entrepreneurial Rising Star Award was presented to Daniel Barnett of RTR Pro Entertainment.

The annual dinner also serves as a kind of passing of the torch - the chairmen and women of the Chamber's Board of Directors only serve a single-year term, and Gomez passed the gavel to Carl Jamison of JamisonMoneyFarmer PC, who will lead the organization in 2025.

(Stephen Dethrage | Tuscaloosa Thread)
(Stephen Dethrage | Tuscaloosa Thread)
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The Chamber is heading to the state's capital in early February for their annual Montgomery Drive-In, meeting legislators and other officials to advocate for the needs of west Alabama. Stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread for live coverage of that trip next month and other news from across the region.

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