Chamber Hosts 2024 Awards Celebration
LEEDS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HOSTS 2024 AWARDS CELEBRATION
The Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce wrapped up the year in style at its monthly luncheon on Thursday, December 19. This special event was held at First Baptist Church Leeds and included the Chamber’s annual awards presentation, recognition of outstanding businesses, and the induction of the 2025 Board of Directors. The luncheon was sponsored by Structured Technology LLC.
Congratulations to Business of the Year 2024, Guardian Systems, Inc. (GSI)
Business of the Year Guardian Systems, Inc. (GSI) was started in 1973 by Gerald Miller. Gerald and Linda are longtime Leeds residents and have made Guardian Systems a recognizable name as a top environmental laboratory in the south. Guardian is a professional and accredited environmental laboratory and has a stellar reputation of providing their clients with top quality results in a timely manner with professionalism and care for clients' needs. GSI serves many local and national government, municipal, and industrial businesses and is accredited by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Guardian is committed to testing all drinking water, especially in the Leeds community, to make sure all will be safe to drink. GSI remains one of the last locally and individually-owned environmental testing laboratories for the state of Alabama.
Congratulations to Non-Profit Organization of the Year Award 2024, Leeds Main Street
Non-Profit of the Year, Leeds Main Street, has worked tirelessly to enhance the heart of Leeds, collaborating closely with property owners and the city to bring positive change and to foster growth. One key project was the revitalization of the pocket park, where they helped restore the existing gazebo by having it freshly painted and adding new Adirondack chairs, lights, and outdoor games, creating a welcoming space for residents and visitors. Additionally, this organization played a pivotal role in the addition of several vibrant murals to downtown. They have hosted a series of successful community events, most recently Mistletoe on Main before the Christmas parade. Leeds Main Street has truly been a driving force in the revitalization of the downtown Leeds area, fostering unity and community spirit while bringing exciting new opportunities to the city.
Congratulations to Ambassador of the Year 2024, Emanuel Vallejo
Ambassador of the Year, Emanuel Vallejo, has volunteered many hours of service to the chamber to see that needs have been met with every event the Chamber has hosted this year. Most recently, he took an active role with the Chamber’s "Blue Light Weekend" and "Breezy, the Holiday Shopper," including taking photos around town with Breezy and taking the initiative to have sweaters made for him. Emanuel shows up early, stays late, builds relationships, and troubleshoots along the way. He is a great representative for the chamber and the Leeds community, and will serve on the chamber board of directors in 2025.
Congratulations to Civic Award 2024 Recipient, Tiffiany Abel Ward
Tiffiany Abel Ward of Millennial Bank was presented the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce Civic Award. Vice President of Retail Banking at Millennial Bank, Tiffiany serves the community in so many ways. She is past president of the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce, and she is also very active with Leeds Main Street and the Leeds Quarterback Club. Tiffiany loves the Leeds community, and it is evident in everything she does.
Congratulations to the President's Award 2024 Recipient, The Men and Women of Leeds Water Works Board
Chamber Board President Steven Weems said this of the President’s Award recipients, the Men and Women of the Leeds Water Works Board, "This group of people is essential to the lives of every single person and business in the community. They do the literal 'dirty work' it takes for the city to even exist. Too often they go unnoticed or, if they are noticed, it is with disrespectful or negative comments on social media. The men who do the physical work often climb into ditches or are lowered head-first into massive holes with only the security of the men holding their feet. The ladies at the often are often blamed for things that are not even their fault. When these folks do their jobs right, no one notices. Life just keeps moving and faucets just keep turning. I believe these folks are the best 'offensive line' in the state of Alabama."
The Chamber Celebrates State Awards
The Chamber also celebrated adr Business & Marketing Strategies (bronze winner) and Earthborn Studios (Top 10 finalist) for their recognition in the state Small Business Awards presented by the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama and the Business Council of Alabama.
As always, the Chamber thanks Mrs. Mae Hinton and the ladies of First Methodist Church Leeds for serving the meal, the chamber diplomats for assisting at the luncheon, and Irondale Cafe for catering the meal. A special thanks to Mayor David Miller for inducting the 2025 Board of Directors and to everyone who joined in to close out 2024 with a fantastic celebration.
2025 Board Members include: (Shown in the photo L-R): Johnny Brunson – Brunson, Barnett, and Sherrer PC; Debbie Watkins – Bob Watkins Realty; Steven Weems, outgoing president – First Baptist Church Leeds; Steve Karr, incoming president – Leeds Arts Council; Amy Lee, executive director and board secretary (ex officio), Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce; Chris Oldenberg – Servpro of Birmingham; and Leeds Mayor David Miller (ex officio). (Not shown:) Telra Rocker – Alabama Power Company; John Moore – Leeds City Schools; Phillip Samuels – America’s First Federal Credit Union; Kristen Roley – Heidelberg Materials; Randell Pickering – Mills Pharmacy; Tena Payne – Earthborn Pottery; Jeff Hudson – Standard Furniture; and Emanuel Vallejo – Kinetic by Windstream. Also not shown are ex officio board members Susan Dubose – State Representative and Brad Watson – City of Leeds.
The Chamber Recognized 2024 Corporate Sponsors
The Chamber’s 2024 Corporate Sponsors were formally recognized and presented with a plaque. The Chamber would like to thank them once again for their corporate sponsorship and participation as follows: Presenting Sponsor: City of Leeds, Corporate Partner: Heidelberg Materials, Gold Sponsors: Brunson Barnett and Sherrer PC and Hubbell Power Systems, Silver Sponsors: Millennial Bank and The Shops of Grand River, Bronze Sponsors: adr Business & Marketing Strategies, Alabama Power, AMAC Design Builders, AmFirst, Bob Watkins Realty, Buc-ee's, Guardian Systems, IKG USA, Kinetic by Windstream, and Vick Accounting & Tax Service LLC and Copper Sponsor: EXIT Legacy Realty.
For more information about the Chamber, please email amy@leedsareachamber.com, visit the Chamber’s website at www.leedsareachamber.com, ‘like’ us on Facebook @Leeds Area Chamber, follow us on Instagram, or call 205.699.5001.
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