More than 420 gather at the Pinnacle to tout accomplishments and citizens!
They say there are no secrets in a small town, but Coahoma Community College President Dr. Valmadge Towner was certainly surprised Tuesday night.
Towner was named the Citizen of the Year at the 74th Annual Meeting of the Chamber of Commerce and Industrial Foundation. Roger Stolle and Cathead Delta Blues was the Small Business of the Year announced at the Oct. 22 banquet.
“Wow, I didn’t see that coming and I really don’t know what to say,” said Towner as he gingerly held his plaque at the podium. “I was once told if you want to go fast, go with numbers, but if you want to go far, go with people.
“I am fortunate to be surrounded by a team of people who have helped me be successful,” said Towner. “Thank you for this, thank you.”
Towner was announced as the 2019 Citizen of the Year by 2018 Citizen of the Year Charles Langford, who read a lengthy list of Towner’s accomplishments and honors.
Chamber Executive Jon Levingston announced Stolle’s award and pointed out one of the chamber's main jobs is to support small, local businesses.
More than 420 people filled The Pinnacle on the campus of Coahoma Community College to watch the community’s top two awards and to see the city name a Yard of the Year and Clarksdale Employee of the Year.
Tina Bishop was named the inaugural Clarksdale Yard of the Year and received a $500 check with her award. Clarksdale Public Works Employee David Walker was named the city’s first Employee of the Year and also received a $500 check.
Sports columnist and former director of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Rick Cleveland entertained the crowd with stories about Mississippi athletes ranging from Archie Manning and Jerry Rice to Walter Peyton and Clarksdale’s own Charlie Conerly.
Out-going Chamber President Suresh Chawla said he has been impressed with the accomplishments of Chamber Executive Levingston during his tenure and felt there were even better days ahead.
“You have a wonderful, wonderful chamber of commerce and community”, said Chawla who has served on chamber boards around the region. “Clarksdale will continue to do many good things.”
New Chamber President Dianne Mitchell said she will work hard to keep Clarkdale moving forward.
Mitchell talked about past success and hinted of more good things to come in this community.
Industrial Foundation President Ed Peacock has agreed to serve another term and also pointed to bringing over 300 jobs to Clarksdale this year alone.
“What a year to be on the Industrial Foundation Board,” said Peacock. “We finalized People Shores and Image Industries and the expansion at Saf-T-Cart. I am blessed to be the president of the Industrial Foundation and work with a board that brought these jobs here.”
Levingston closed Tuesday’s banquet right on time with a few brief remarks.
“We need to take comfort that we are not alone and there are 420 of us here tonight,” said Levingston. “That’s important.
“I also believe that Clarksdale’s best days are ahead of us, and we need to quit looking in the rearview mirror at the past” he added. “We are on a journey and I urge you to join me and your chamber on that journey.”
Chamber Board of Directors
Dianne Mitchell, President
Suresh Chawla, Past President
Demetria Jackson, Vice President
Fred Cohen, Vice President
Cindy Holt, Treasurer
Ed Peacock, Industrial Foundation Pres.
Henry Dorsey, EDA President
Kyrie Antici
Dan Cirilli
Dr. Nikki Cager
Dr. Kushna Damallie
Cindy Holt
Greg Hoskins
John Morson
Jeffery Gooden
Chelesa Presley
Jim Schnadelbach
Shanna Taylor
Rone Walker
Mayor Chuck Espy
Supervisor Paul Pearson
Economic Development Authority
Henry Dorsey, President
Hartley Kittle, Vice President
Albert Williams, Secretary
Terry Dulaney
Mike Tyner
Jacqueline Seaton
Mike Wimberly
Industrial Foundation
Ed Peacock, President
Michelle Fondren, Past President
Tripp Hayes, Vice President
Steven Jossell, Vice President
Dianne Mitchell, Chamber Pres.
Henry Dorsey, EDA Pres.
Antoinette Gray-Brown
Fred Cohen
Dr. Tom Cooper
Fred Doster
David Huggins
Keith Hurt
Shaw Johnson
Lela Keys
Bill Luckett
Beverly Overton
Rob Parker
Diane Pimpton
Terry Smith
Joel Southern
Valmadge Towner
Mayor Chuck Espy
Supervisor Paul Pearson
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