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About Jackson herald. (Jefferson, Jackson County, Ga.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2023)
PAGE 2A THE JACKSON HERALD WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2023 Chamber continued from Achievement Award. Linda Foster, with Jackson County Family Connection, was named the Citizen of the Year. Oth ers awarded were: Kym McClain, Am bassador of the Year; Heather Robinson, Volunteer of the Year; Wilbanks Law Firm, Small Business of the Year; and Uline, Large Business of the Year. Read about each of the award win ners: SHERIFF MANGUM — WILLIAM H. BOOTH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mang- um was awarded the 2022 William H. Booth Lifetime Achievement award. Mangum received multiple extended standing ovations from the crowd during the awards banquet. “She has been a stellar representative of law enforcement and she has led with passion and integrity,” Massey said. Mangum has worked in law enforce ment for 38 years, 34 of which were with the Jackson County Sheriffs Of fice, She’s worked in a number of roles in law enforcement, starting out as a ra dio operator. She’s also worked as dep uty sheriff and jail commander, and was promoted to investigator in 1994. a role she served in for 19 years before she ran for sheriff. Massey pointed out a number of ways Mangum has been involved in the com munity. She’s a past board member of Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Board, the Tree House board and the Lanier Technical College board. She’s a current board member of Georgia Sher iff’s Youth Home. Mangum has lived in Jackson County all her life and has chosen not to leave the community. “Her favorite thing about Jackson County is the love the people have for one another,” Massey said. “She says that love has been abundantly shown to her especially the last 10 years as she has served our county as Sheriff.” Mangum said she’s also thankful for her parents, who taught her and her sib lings the importance of having a strong work ethic and to care for others. “I’m so blessed and so humbled to re ceive this,” Mangum said after accepting the award. “I wanna thank the Lord for all of my many blessings and this is real ly a blessing right here.” Mangum thanked her family, friends and staff members who have supported her over the years. “A sheriff is only as good as the peo ple that surround them,” Mangum said. “And I’ve been blessed and humbled to have a great bunch of people surround ing me.” Mangum has announced she won’t seek re-election. Her term runs through 2024. ‘Thank you, sheriff, for your dedicat ed service to our community for over 38 years. We are proud to call you ours,” Massey said. Tabo’s in Jefferson sponsored the award. LINDA FOSTER — CITIZEN OF THE YEAR Linda Foster, with Jackson County Family Connection, is the 2022 Cham ber Citizen of the Year. Foster started at Jackson County Family Connection in 2013 and currently serves as the group’s executive director. “Her service to others extends well beyond her work at Family Connection,” Massey said. “To say Linda is passion ate about Jackson County is an under statement. She is the behind-the-scenes leader who is making a difference in so many lives here in Jackson County.” Foster serves as chair of the Lega cy Youth Mentoring Board. She also serves on the board of directors for the North Georgia Community Foundation, Chamber of Commerce, and ACTION, Inc. She’s on the advisory board for Certified Literacy programs and is an active member of the Piedmont Judicial Circuit Domestic Violence Task Force. Foster has also served on the Boys & Girls Club board, Jackson County Arts Council and the advisory board for Wellspring Camp. She was awarded the 2015 Jackson County Community Outreach Lead ership Award and was the Chamber’s Woman of the Year in 2016. She serves as a Chamber ambassador, volunteers for Leadership Jackson and is involved in the Chamber in a variety of ways. “She is a wonderful example of what it means to be a Citizen of the Year,” Massey said. The Town of Braselton sponsored the award. KYM MCCLAIN — AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR Kym McClain, co-owner and lead photographer for John & Kym Creative, is the 2022 Chamber Ambassador of the Year. McClain has been a member of the Chamber since 2020, first representing Piedmont CASA. Massey said McClain’s personality makes her an asset as a Chamber Am bassador. making new members and guests feel welcome at events. “If you’ve not yet met Kym, one of the first things you’ll notice is her glow ing personality,” Massey said. “This helps new members, as well as first time guests to a Chamber event, feel very welcome and at ease right away.” Massey noted McClain has attended numerous events and ribbon cuttings since she’s become an Ambassador. Ribbon cutting events are one of Mc Clain’s favorite activities. “It is an honor to come alongside an excited business owner for their big day,” McClain was quoted. The award was sponsored by Bing ham Insurance. HEATHER ROBINSON — VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR Heather Robinson, owner of Cross and Dot, LLC, is the 2022 Chamber Volunteer of the Year. Robinson was bom and raised in Commerce and returned to the commu nity to raise her children. She’s a member of the Leadership Jackson Class of 2021 and was select ed to serve on the Leadership advisory board. Robinson also plays a role in the Junior Leadership Program, serving as a program advisor of that group. She also serves as chair of the Junior Leadership advisory board. Robinson is also a mem ber of the Chamber’s education commit tee and Women in Business committee. She’s also on the sub-committee for the Women in Business scholarship. “Heather’s favorite thing about vol unteering is the positive change that she can visibly see in the community as a result of the tremendous volunteer work happening throughout the Chamber,” Massey said. “Heather said it is very gratifying to be able to give back, even if it’s just a lit tle, to the community that gave so much to her and to be an example to her sons about the importance of being a positive, active community member.” 1A Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce chairman Thom Price (L) passes the gavel to in coming chairman Tricia Massey during the chamber’s annual banquet. Relationship Edge Consulting spon sored the award. WILBANKS LAW FIRM — SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Wilbanks Law Firm is the 2022 Chamber Small Business of the Year, which is awarded to a company with 25 employees or less. The general practice firm specializes in business, property and probate litiga tion and the general legal needs of the residents of Jackson and Banks coun ties. The firm is celebrating its 15th an niversary this October. “Dylan Wilbanks is a Jackson County native who recognized a need for legal representation in his community and was excited to open a law firm in his hometown of Commerce,” Massey said. Wilbanks Law Firm has grown over the years and now has a staff of five that handle complex litigation matters in the county, state and beyond. Dylan Wilbanks is past chairman of the Chamber of Commerce board of directors and has served on the board for 11 years. He’s also a member of the Commerce Downtown Development Authority and he serves as chairman of the Jackson County Water and Sewer age Authority. Northeast Georgia Health System sponsored the award. ULINE — LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Uline is the 2022 Large Business of the Year, which is awarded to a com pany with 26 employees or more. The company is a packaging, shipping, safety and industrial product supplier. Massey said that Uline was founded by Liz and Dick Uihlein in the base ment of their home in 1980 with one product. The company has grown ex ponentially over the years. “That one product has grown to over 40,000 in-stock items available for their customers every day.” Massey said. Uline serves over 2 million custom ers, including 2,000 in Jackson County, Massey said. “With their values of speed, passion and operational excellence, their cus tomers can place an order by 6 p.m. and it will ship the same day with most customers receiving what they need the very next day,” she added. Uline opened its Braselton facility in 2018 and has been an active member of the Chamber. The company supports the Cham ber’s education committee, annual golf tournament and Hometown Hero lun cheon. Uline also hosts community food drives, sponsors children for Christmas and hosts school supply drives. “I know that Uline is proud to be a member of this great community,” Massey said. Georgia Power sponsored the award. The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce’s Am bassador of the Year Kym McLane (center) was hon ored during the chamber’s annual awards event on Jan. 26. Shown with her are chamber president Jim Shaw (R) and award sponsor Chad Bingham (L). The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce’s Vol unteer of the Year Heather Robinson (center) was honored during the chamber’s annual awards event on Jan. 26. Shown with her are chamber president Jim Shaw (R) and award sponsor Steve Wittry (L). The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year Wilbanks Law Firm rep resented by Dylan Wilbanks (center) was honored during the chamber’s annual awards event on Jan. 26. Shown with him are chamber president Jim Shaw (R) and Anthony Williamson (L), president of Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton, award sponsor. The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce’s Large Business of the Uline was represented by manager Brian Leutz (center). Shown with him are chamber president Jim Shaw (R) and Angela Haun representing award sponsor Georgia Power. The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year Linda Foster (center) was hon ored during the chamber’s annual awards event on Jan. 26. Shown with her are chamber president Jim Shaw (R) and Becky Richardson representing award sponsor the Town of Braselton. Commerce City Schools Pre-K Registration 23-24 ❖ Online application will be open February 1-28 at www.commercecitvschoolls.oirR - Student Registration. ❖ Child must be 4 by September 1, 2023. ❖ Only completed applications will be considered for the March 8 lottery. ❖ Letters will be emailed to all applicants on March 8 regarding acceptance. ❖ Contact Mandy Lund @ 706-335-5587 or maridy.lund (Scorn mercec.itvschools.org with questions.
