Michael Cogdill, keynote speaker at the Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet Saturday, recognizes, Easley's John McIntyre for the Duke Citizenship and Service Award. With them is McIntyre's son, Jeff McIntryre, and daughter, Lynne Mooseberg. John McIntyre also celebrated his 90th birthday Saturday.
Saturday's Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet stressed a theme of optimism for the coming year.
Approximately 170 chamber members and guests attended the event at the new Tri-County Technical College Easley Campus for dinner, recognition of changing leadership and awards.
The event, themed “Then & Now … A gaze back, and a look ahead,” honored longtime chamber member and local textile executive, John McIntyre, with The Duke Citizenship and Service Award.
Also present from the developmental days of the chamber was Jack Ragsdale, former publisher of the Easley Progress and the chamber executive who started the awards celebration. WYFF announcer Michael Cogdill carried on the theme with an after dinner address encouraging the crowd to dream big dreams and not give up on them.
Outgoing chairman of the chamber's board of directors, Todd Merriss of Dixie Lumber Company, turned his leadership role over to Brian Swords, Ed. D. Tri-County Technical College's Easley Campus Director.
Merriss pointed toward an improving economic picture for the Easley area and stressed the need for the chamber to continue serving its core constituents, the local businesses. “We have looked for new ways to serve you better,” he told the crowd. “You are the reason we do what we do.”
Swords said, “I hope to do as well in this position as my predecessor. Easley is a great place to live and a great place to rise a family.”
He said he believes the region is “pulling out” of the economic downturn of the last three years. Referring to a “State of the City” address by Mayor Larry Bagwell Thursday, Swords said the mayor presented a “very positive message for the coming year.”
That message pointed to continued growth of the Easley Town Center project with anticipated start of construction of a Sports Authority store this spring and the coming of a Sam's Club store in 2013 plus other retailers as part of that project.
Of the Town Center project, Swords said, “That has provided 800 to 900 new jobs. The positive message in that is Economics 101.” He said the coming year holds development of a entrepreneurial incubator, a group of retired business people to help local people with business ideas make those ideas successful. “The next Google or Yahoo or Starbucks could be right out here in this room in need of a little help to become a success,” Swords said.
Also coming this year is a new alliance between local business and educators to help both groups work together on providing learning relevant to workforce needs. Swords also sees Easley working closer with its Powdersville Business Council to help advance the “explosion” of development there.
Other leaders recognized were outgoing board members Alex Dye of the People's National Bank and Scott Buckhiester of Dunburks Premiere Events.
In addition to naming McIntyre as the recipient of the Duke Citizenship and Service Award. The chamber also named Steven Lambright of Miracle Hill Ministries as Ambassador of the Year for most successfully representing the chamber through the Ambassador Program.
Tiffany Martin of the Pickens County YMCA was named Director of the Year for three years of active service on the board working on the Gala Committee and as board secretary.
Walmart was named Business of the Year for development of the Super Center, providing 200 jobs and its giving of more than $13,000 to 134 community organizations.
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