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.
