ORANGE PARK – A plethora of local business owners took home plenty of bragging rights at the Clay County Chamber of Commerce’s Awards Gala on Thursday, Oct. 9.

Held at Center Court in the Orange Park Mall, the crowd was dressed to the nines for the prestigious ceremony, sponsored by Baptist Medical Center Clay.  The gala is held annually as a special way to recognize the progress and accomplishments of small businesses in the community.

The Clay County Chamber of Commerce is a member-focused nonprofit organization that supports and advocates for local businesses in the county.  In the last three years, Clay Chamber President Jon Cantrell said the organization has grown from 200 members to about 625.

“The chamber members are very incredible, and we are so proud of all our members,” Cantrell said. 

During the evening, the chamber gave out many awards, including Small Business of the Year. This award looked to reward small businesses that have excelled in community involvement, growth, customer service and professional relationships. 

Nominees were required to have been an active member of the chamber for at least one year.

Five businesses across Clay County earned a title: Orange Park’s SouthState Bank, Keystone Heights’ Air Innovations, Middleburg/Oakleaf’s Healthy is Beautiful, Fleming Island’s Event Divas and Green Cove Springs’ Premier Gas and Grills.

Nonprofit of the Year went to the Father’s Heart. Since 2009, the nonprofit has delivered approximately 6,000 meals a month to Clay County families in need, along with essential items such as school supplies. Founder Nathan Dowd was called to the stage, accompanied by a round of applause. 

Orange Park Woman’s Club President Constance Higginbotham took home Ambassador of the Year. Community Service Member of the Year went to Cheryl Kennedy. Kennedy owns Home Studio Video, a Green Cove Springs-based business that offers professional video, film, and media content transfer, as well as video post-production and production services.

“She’s been an ambassador and a valued person of the Chamber of Commerce. She comes to just about everything we do. And she’s very active. She loves people and she’s one of the reasons the chamber is where it’s at today,” Cantrell told the crowd.

Achieve Fitness’s Mike Glickman, also Chamber Treasurer, won the Chair Award. WGI’s Walter Kloss became the chamber’s new Board Chair. Past Chair and Orange Park Mall General Manager Randy Bowman passed the baton to him.

Owner and CEO of the Rolling Stoves Sheena McLevy took home the President’s Award, while Business Excellence of the Year went to Assisted Living Local’s Janet Peterson.

The last award of the night was the Louis L. Huntly Pacesetter Award, which recognizes community leaders demonstrating the highest level of integrity, visionary leadership, the ability to transform visions into realities, and a commitment to their community.

 Orange Park Furniture owner Elmer James accepted the honorable award with a round of applause from the crowd. The 51-year-old iconic store officially closed its doors back in April; however, James said that wouldn’t stop him from being part of the Chamber and getting others to join him.

“Sign up,” he told the crowd with laughter. “If you quit, you can’t quit.”