Janaury 17, 2025 (More Photos) - The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce celebrated the 2024 year during their annual awards banquet held at the John D. Windham Civic Center on Thursday, January 16, 2025. Top honors of the evening went to Lauren Hovey Bonner as Young Citizen of the Year, Roger Doyle received the Distinguished Service Award, and Jerry and Phyllis Griffin and Family were named Farm Family of the Year.
Brandy Filz, Chairman of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce
Chairman of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce, Brandy Filz, opened the evening’s banquet, “Good evening and welcome to our 102nd Annual Chamber Celebration. My name is Brandy Filz and I’m a local business owner here in Shelby County. I joined the Chamber in 2020 and since joining the Chamber I’ve been very involved, first as an ambassador and a TRC volunteer, a member of the Board of Directors and now I’m honored to serve my second year as Chairman of the Board.”
Shelby County Chamber of Commerce President Deborah Chadwick gave a highlight of the past year recognizing all the Chamber events in 2024. "It was a super fun year. This past year, I'm very proud that we had 21 new members so now we have close to 400 members... We had 10 new ambassadors so now we have over 40 ambassadors in our Ambassador Program which is very exciting. We hosted many successful events last year." Chadwick listed and described the annual events: Grill Fest in March, Teacher Appreciation and First Responders Lunch in May, JCC Leadership Conference in September, Poultry Festival in October, and Taste of the Holidays, Christmas Parade in December. Special recognition was given to the 1st Community Christmas Tree Lighting. "Thank you to all the corporate sponsors for all the events that I have listed, for each and every event, because we couldn't have them without you."
Chadwick gave special appreciation to the Junior Chamber of Commerce program. "The Junior Chamber of Commerce program has really been taking off the last couple of years. I would really like to stop and brag on the students and the sponsors that we have. Our students have been tasked with really getting involved in the community and some of their endeavors have been truly outstanding." She described the students have raised money and made donations to Outreach Ministries, provided food for First Responders, and stocked special campus closets with items for fellow students. She recognized the JCC sponsors: Center Christian Academy - Renee' Bridges, Center MS - Jay Hill, Center HS - Jennifer Fausett, Excelsior School - Keli Chandler, Shelbyville HS - Dominique Roland, Tenaha HS - Mia Cloudy, Timpson MS - Kimberly Bruister, and Timpson HS - Charlotte Metcalf.
Chadwick spoke about the Leadership Shelby County Program. "Our Leadership Shelby County program is well underway this year. The class has completed Heritage Day, Government Day, Economy Day, and yesterday we spent the day with Social Services Day. We still have Healthcare Day, Agriculture Day, and our Quality of Life Day, oh, Education Day too. So we are just about halfway through. It's a great group of individuals." The class members are Ginger Borders with Farmers State Bank; Nikki Brandt with Pine Grove Nursing Center; Kyle Chambliss with Farmers State Bank; Felicia Cloudy, retired but also with Center ISD; Clay Ihlo with Shelby Savings; O'Neal Jones, Mayor of City of Tenaha; Courtney O'Rear with Children's Advocacy Center; Laura Romero with Shelby Savings Bank; Feleshia Thompson with the AgriLife Extension Office; and Misty Wright with Workforce Solutions.
The 2025 Board of Directors were recognized: Brandy Filz, Chairman of the Board, Timberwolf Lake Works; Amanda Treat, Chairman of the Board Elect, City of Tenaha; Leon Aldridge; B.J. Muschalek, Texas Farm Bureau Insurance; David Chadwick, City of Center; Desiree Nitzschke, HOPE Community Medicine; Angie Davis, Tyson Foods; Kim Payne, Borders Poultry Supply; Justin Eastepp, Pine Grove Nursing Center; Anna Register, Children's Advocacy Center; Carol Eberenz, All Hours Fitness; Sandra Russell, Shelby Savings Bank; Doug Gay, East Texas Awards; Ashley Snider, J's Bar and Grill; Reneta Jones, Farmers State Bank; Matt Snider, Tomlin Insurance; Malcolm Monroe, First Methodist Church; Robin Thompson, Bank of Montgomery; Dr. Brian Morris, Center ISD; and Ashlyn Wiggins, AW Marketing.
Regarding the Chamber Board Chadwick shared, "So I'm really excited about the new board members that we have. I think we have an excellent board to go forward. Again, thank you to all our very generous corporate and individual sponsors for tonight, for the support of all our events, without your continued support and trust we would not be able to provide the community with all the activities and events we do. Henry Ford said 'Coming together is the beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success.' Let us all continue to work together for the success of our businesses, our community, and our lives."
She added, "Last year our theme was 'Partners in Progress' and I would like this theme for 2025 to be 'Let's make it happen.' We are all partners working together to help and support each other, to grow our community, to make anything happen. When I think about our Community Christmas tree, a group of individuals got together and said 'Let's make it happen'... and they did."
2024 Farm Family of the Year. From left: Lane Dunn, AgriLife Extension Agent presents plaque to Phyllis and Jerry Griffin Family.
The Farm Family of the Year was presented by Lane Dunn, AgriLife County Extension Agent, "It is my honor to announce and present the Farm Family of the Year for the 2024 year. Long time family that's have been in the business, generational business in the agriculture. I'm very proud to announce those folks. This year's farm family goes to Jerry and Phyllis Griffin and Family. I'm very proud of them." Dunn then described them as being involved in the 'big 3' which are logging industry, the ranching and cattle industry, and their involved in the Poultry industry. He continued, "They've been in business for 56 years. They started their cattle operation as a way to supplement their logging operation and Mrs. Griffin was a teacher... In 1996 they started in the Poultry business and in 1997 they added another farm. They still are in operation today raising pullets for Pilgrims."
Lane added the family was blessed to inherit land from parents and grandparents. They added land as it became available as well using the acreage for grazing, hay production, timber production, and wildlife management. The Griffins have a daughter named Jennifer who is a dyslexia therapist at Joaquin ISD and a son, Jason, who is running the logging operation as well as other businesses of his own. They have three grandchildren, Jackson, Jacob, and Della Grace and all three of the grandchildren work and play on the farm. While living on and maintaining land that has been in the family for 107 years, Jerry continues to work daily to care for 300-plus head of cattle that the family owns and oversees the poultry farm. Phyllis keeps all things in order and recently returned to being a 4-H leader after her grandkids joined the Shelby County 4-H. She was a 4-H leader from 1980-1995 while her kids were involved. Rodeo has also been an important part of their lives with their kids and grandkids all participating. The couple has been an active member of the First Baptist Church in Center for many years.
Next, Mary Lynn Tinkle introduced the Elementary Teacher of the Year to be Kathy Davis and the Secondary Teacher of the Year to be Dr. Mihaela Munday. Both were recognized earlier in 2024 during the Teacher Appreciation Banquet held in May. To read the Teacher Appreciation article and see photos - 2024 Teacher of the Year Recipients are Davis, Dr. Munday.
Young Citizen of the Year. From left: Marlin Cloudy, Jr. presents plaque to Lauren Bonner.
Marlin Cloudy, Jr., the 2023 Young Citizen of the Year, then addressed the audience to announce the newest recipient. "The Young Citizen of the Year recipient is the owner of Intentional Mental Health and Wellness, which she opened one year ago. Here, she provides mental health services to the surrounding communities. Intentional Mental Health & Wellness is home to other professional counselors that love to help others and can work flexible hours. I wish I could. Lauren is a huge proponent and advocate for Mental Health. She has volunteered her services when needed and has spoken at various local events, sharing her knowledge of Mental Health. She has had a passion for helping others since she was a little girl. She was instrumental in helping to start Community Christian Services (CCS) in Joaquin. CCS provides clothing and helps to supply produce and other food items for families in need. At its beginning, CCS provided 52 boxes of food each month which is extraordinary. Currently, they provide over 250 boxes each month, so, significant growth. She not only helped start CCS but is currently serving as a Board Member and helps with social media as well as Marketing and has been helping to successfully secure resources for CCS."
Cloudy continued, "She is helping to start a program at Joaquin ISD in conjunction with CCS called, Rams Den. This program will provide food for at-risk students for weekends and holidays. She also provides marketing and social media support for Breakfast with Santa, a fundraising event that benefits the Shelby County Children's Advocacy Center. She is a founding member of the Hovey Farm "I Can" Scholarship committee. She helps to determine yearly scholarships for Seniors at Joaquin ISD. The students are picked, of course, based off an essay where they describe how they have overcome adversities in life and remained and have become successful students and give back to the community. Finally, she is involved in a program called "Intentional Connections". This program will soon file for Non-profit status and help to provide resources to those in need in Joaquin. Mrs. [Gayle] Samford headed the program years prior and wished for its continuation to serve the citizens of Joaquin. Our recipient will serve as a board member and help with marketing and resources and donations. This program will help fill in the gaps for those in need of help with utilities, medical expenses, as well as other in need." Cloudy then asked Lauren to come up along with her family.
After receiving the award, Bonner wanted to share two things, "First off, 2nd Corinthians 1:4 says 'Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort others with the same comfort that He showed us.' And that's one of the verses that really just helps me to recognize there are so many people who are in need but God has helped me so much and that is the least we can do for others. So, first and foremost I told [Deborah Chadwick] I couldn't accept this award without saying thank you to God and for all He has done for my family and for all of the different programs that there are." She continued, "Thank you so much for this award but none of it would be possible without Him. He is the one that makes all things possible and makes it work together for His good. And secondly, I want to say thank you to my family but also I ask different individuals from my church, Bro. Jody Hooper and Mrs. Whitney, Mrs. Danielle who couldn't be here, they are the ones that go in and out and do the donations and run the pantry and do all of the things. I get to kind of be in the background and do the social media and stuff like that but they are the ones who get the call at 10pm and run and go bring propane or whatever it may be and so I'm so grateful for them and I couldn't do it without all of them."
Distinguished Service Award. From left: J.J. Ford presents plaque to Roger Doyle.
J.J. Ford, the 2023 Distinguished Service Award recipient, then introduced Roger Doyle to be the 2024 recipient. "The 2024 Distinguished Service Award recipient is a quiet leader in our community. Their willingness to say yes when needed is embraced by an all-in attitude which is evident in the end by their actions and appearance... The Distinguished Service Award is given to a person who has made exceptional contributions to their community and this recipient has without a doubt made exceptional contributions."
Roger Doyle has worked at Watson & Sons Funeral Home since 2000. Together with his wife Judy, they have traveled the world attending various events of organizations of which he is a member. Ford listed Roger Doyles' community involvement to be a Center Noon Lions Club member, a Chamber volunteer, a Mason in the Sam Samford Lodge #149, and a historian with membership in the Sons of the Confederate Veterans Captain Jesse Amason Chapter and Company G, 3rd Louisiana Infantry reenactment group. In all of these groups Doyle has served in a leadership position not only locally but at the District level, state level, and even International level. Ford ended by saying, "I'm thrilled to say Congratulations Roger [Doyle] for being named the 2024 Distinguished Service Award Recipient."
After receiving his plaque Doyle expressed his appreciation, "Thank you very much. One thing that I started early on in life was service; I've had a desire to do that. You may not always be able to do it financially but you can do it with a willingness and time and there is a way to do it and I believe we are put here for that purpose to serve our fellow man. Thank you."
