99Th Annual Awards Banquet (Chamber Office Will Be Closed) Presented by Bank of Ruston
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JANUARY 2019 Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce • 2111 North Trenton St., Ruston, LA 71270 • (318) 255-2031 • www.rustonlincoln.orgCHAMBER CONNECTION 1 Deliver to: Chamber Connection CALENDAR A Publication of the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce January 2019 January 1 Happy New Year! 99th Annual Awards Banquet (Chamber office will be closed) presented by Bank of Ruston January 10 Thursday, January 15, 2019 • Ruston Civic Center Leadership Lincoln Economic/Workforce Devt This event will kick-off a year of * Recognition of Young Business Year – K-9 Team, Sergeant Robbins Volunteer of the Year Day celebration for the Chamber’s Leaders to Watch – Brent Kyle Luker and Sergeant Boco, – Catherine McVea 100th Anniversary, recognize Causey, Morgan Garrison, Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, The Banquet will begin at January 14 incoming and outgoing Board Carlyn Harbour, Victoria Sexton, and Educator of the Year – 6 pm. with a wine-and-cheese Student/Teacher of the Year members, and honor several & Tori Ward Davis Coach Donnie Barmore, Cedar social. Dinner will be served exemplary citizens. Creek School at 6:45 pm. Attire is business Awards Gala Awards to be presented on * LP School District’s or semi-formal. Tiered level 6 p.m. Awards to be presented by behalf of other Ruston-Lincoln Distinguished Partners in sponsors of this event are Chamber: Organizations: Education – First Baptist Origin Bank and Hunt Guillot January 15 * Robert E. Russ Award – Kyle * Ruston Rotary Club’s Bill Church-Ruston & Newk’s & Associates. 99th Annual Chamber Awards McDonald Best Humanitarian – Eddie Eatery Tickets are $40 each for Banquet * Business of the Year – Ruston Barnes * Ruston Lincoln Convention Chamber members, and $50 for Brick, LLC * Ruston Kiwanis’ Firefighter and Visitors Bureau’s non-members. A reserved table January 22 * Young Business Leader of the of the Year – District Chief Hospitality Award - Nicholas of eight, for Chamber members S.A.I.L. Year – Dylan Sanders John E. Price, Sr., Lincoln Bustamante and Whitney is $325, non-members is $405. Business/Economic Devt Day * Ambassador of the Year – Ron Parish Fire District #1, Law Trisler Causey Registration is open online at Veitch Enforcement Officer of the * Junior Auxiliary’s Betty www.rustonlincoln.org. January 22 Business After Hours Better Living Market Top 20 Events award presented Second Annual Chili 5-6:30 p.m. for Louisiana Peach Festival Cook-Off Winners January 23 Congratulations to the winners of the 2nd Annual The Ruston-Lincoln Chamber Ribbon Cutting Battle for the Paddle Chili Cook-Off and thanks to all of Commerce has been presented the participants, judges, tasters, Rick Godley and the Seedlinks Behavior Mgt. the Top 20 Events award from the 11:30 a.m. Ruston Farmers Market! This event was sponsored in Southeast Tourism Society (STS) in part by 2High Trampoline Park. More photos can be recognition of the Louisiana Peach seen on Facebook.com/RustonChamber. January 23 Festival. Ambassadors Meeting “The Louisiana Peach Festival 12 p.m. is the largest and longest running event held in Ruston, LA. The event 2019 Business takes over Downtown Ruston for a weekend, where attendees can enjoy After Hours carnival rides, live music, kids’ activities, and hosting the “Cobbler Gobbler” 4th Tuesdays, 5-6:30 p.m. peachy goods, parade, shopping and Peach Cobbler Eating Contest in 2016. February 26, Courtyard by more. Peach Festival offers something The Louisiana Peach Festival is an iconic, Marriott for everyone with events catering to all beloved event in the area and only interests. Attendees can shop the Arts continues to grow in size and popularity March 26, Bank of Ruston & Crafts Show that features more than with each passing year.” STS.com April 23, Centric FCU 100 booths, attend the antique car show, The 2019 festival will be held June enjoy live music from several artists/ 21-22 in the theme of A Peach in Time. May 28, The Depot-FBC bands in Railroad Park, watch the Peach STS is dedicated to promoting and July 23, Available Cobbler Eating Contest, or enjoy any developing tourism in its member states Pictured from left to right are third-place winner Jeri of the other Peach Festival activities, of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, August 27, Pearce Lumber Lynn Webb of Team Webb; Judy Copeland, Ruston- such as the rodeo, 5K, tennis and bass Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Lincoln Chamber of Commerce president; second- September 24, SciTEC tournaments, kids’ fishing tournament Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, place winner George Puckett, Lincoln Builders; and or fabric art show. The Peach Festival is a Virginia and West Virginia. In 1985, October 22, Holiday Inn first-place winner Matt Shirley of Team Portico. Express huge economic driver for Ruston Lincoln in recognition of the unique, diverse Parish, producing an economic impact and unparalleled events in the region, Winners: 1st Place ($500 & wooden paddle) - Team November 26, 81 Pines of $2.37 million to the community and STS began the Top 20 Events award Portico, 2nd Place ($150 & wooden spoon) - Lincoln Vacation Home providing the area with thousands of program. A Top 20 Award seeks to Builders, 3rd Place ($100 & wooden spoon) - Team visitors. The community takes great bring more publicity and recognition Webb, and People’s Choice ($200 gift basket) - Med- pride in this event with local businesses, to the best events in the Southeast, Camps of Louisiana. People’s Choice prize package Monthly Public schools and organizations participating whether it be media, attendees or was provided by Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers, Meetings in the Peach Festival Parade, in settting both. STS selects the Top 20 events, I-20 Escape , Lincoln Lights Up the Pines , Mitcham the Guinness World Record for Largest per month, and publishes them on a Farms , Origin Bank , Pearce Lumber , Townsend House 1st Monday Peach Cobbler at the 2015 Peach festival quarterly basis. Ruston City Council Gifts , Utility Brewing , and Vintage & Vogue . 1st Tuesday LP School Board 2nd Tuesday LP Police Jury 3rd Monday Ruston Planning & Zoning 2 CHAMBER CONNECTION JANUARY 2019 Letter From The Chair Executive Board of Directors Chair, Earl Smith By Earl Smith, Chamber Chair Wells Fargo Advisors Reflecting and Looking Ahead Chair Elect & Community Development Marisol O’Neal, Origin Bank It is hard to believe that the New Year is upon ing here almost every day. Our universities are us, but it is. For many of us, this a time where we growing and thriving due to the leadership of Dr. set our goals, and set out our New Les Guice, and President Rick Gallot. Events Planning & Development Year’s resolutions. This is an impor- Our local governments are devoting Jessica Hughes, Southern Grace Events & Blessings tant exercise, but I think it is equally the infrastructure resources we need important to look back on what has to support, and spur this growth. It Membership Development been accomplished and how far we is truly a great time to be in Lincoln have come as we close out another Parish. Eric McCulloch, Edward Jones year. I am honored that the Board of It is even more fitting that we do so Directors of the Ruston-Lincoln Organizational Development this year as it is our 100th year cele- Chamber of Commerce has given me Chad Ginn, HiTech Computers bration. Our records indicate that our the opportunity to serve as Chairman. chamber of commerce was founded in I look forward to serving with each of the spring of 1919. Just a few months them alongside our excellent Chamber Immediate Past Chair after the close of World War I. Our Earl Smith Staff of Judy Copeland, Ivana Flower, Lee Denny, Bank of Ruston forefathers started this organization to and Melissa Carpenter. help energize the economic engine of our com- In 2019. we will add four newly energized Board of Directors munity. board members in Adam Hohlt, John Deason, Cathan Brooks, Henderson Financial Services In 1919 our parish had only about one third of Grace Tirado, and Ron Veitch. In addition, we the population that it does today. In those days have recently had a board vacancy, and Tyler Cathan Brooks, Henderson Financial Services the main roads through town were the Dixie Storms will be stepping in to fulfill the rest of that John Deason, Fairfield Inn & Suites Overland Highway and the Pershing Way. Today, term. I am thankful for each of them agreeing to we call them US 80 and US 167 respectively. A serve, and I am eager to see what they bring to Chad Ginn, Hi-Tech Computers century ago, the two railways were major parts of the table. Summer Hammons, My Happy Place Vintage Market our economic engine, and today our two univer- I am also beyond excited about serving with Kristi Hardaway, Princeton Place sities have surpassed them in economic impor- our executive committee this year. Marisol tance. Telephones, electricity, indoor plumbing, O’Neal, Jessica Hughes, and Eric McCulloch have Adam Hohlt, Hampton by Hilton of Ruston and automobiles would all have been relatively all agreed to stay in their current Vice-Chair Ryan Madden, Napper & Madden recent modern conveniences, with most people in roles. They will bring stability to our committees April McGuirt, First National Bank the parish being able to remember a time without for the year. Chad Guinn has agreed to step into Tyler G. Storms, Storms & Storms Law Office them. The world and our community has changed the role of Vice-Chair of Organizational Develop- a great deal since then. ment. Chad has impressed us with his willingness Grace Tirado, Genesis Energy However, there are somethings that have not to serve and take on many volunteer roles. He Michelle Tolar, United Way of NELA changed during the last century.