Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce announces new executives, Silver Shovel awards

The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce Thursday announced its new executive committee and presented 14 Chamber volunteers with the Silver Shovel Award.

The “Changing of the Guard,” as the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce calls it, was conducted Thursday during a Board of Directors meeting at the Gainesville Civic Center. The program included the passing of the Chairman’s Gavel from the 2022-2023 Chamber Chairman William Bagwell with Homestead Investments to the newly appointed 2023-2024 Chairman Brett Fowler with Turner Wood and Smith Insurance.

Fowler is a partner and executive vice present of employee benefits at Turner Wood and Smith Insurance and will begin his role as Chamber Chairman on July 1.

This year marks the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce’s 116th year in service, according to President and CEO Kit Dunlap.

Fowler has previously served as Chamber Vice Chair of Membership Development for the 2020-2025 initiative. He has also graduated from Leadership Hall County and the Leadership Georgia Class of 2022. Additionally, Fowler is a previous president of the Gainesville Jaycees, past campaign chair for United Way of Hall County and past chair of the Georgia Mountain Food Bank.

Several awards Fowler has won include Georgia Trend Magazine’s "40 under 40," the Gus Whalen Young Philanthropist Award and the Gainesville Jaycees Young Man of the Year.

Silver Shovel awards were also presented during Thursday’s gathering. The Silver Shovels are awarded annually to various Chamber volunteers who “have gone above and beyond,” and worked for the Chamber in service to the community, local businesses and Gainesville-Hall County as a whole.

The 2022-2023 Silver Shovel Award winners include:

• Ed Asbridge, City of Flowery Branch
• Carol Burrell, Northeast Georgia Health System
• Dan Carey, Truist
• Eric Chini, Rochester DCCM
• Deana Harper, Hall County Schools
• Charlie Hawkins, Norton Commercial
• Garrett Hibbs, Hall County Extension Service
• Zack Loggins, Runners Fit
• Mike McGraw, Ranger Manufacturing
• Jeff Payne, Capstone Properties Group
• Fred Roddy, Gainesville Renaissance
• Anne Skleder, Brenau University
• Leah Stevens, Lanier Islands Legacy Golf
• Jay Young, Riverside Preparatory Academy

The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce is an organization dedicated to supporting businesses with the aim of making positive contributions to the community. They seek to serve as a resource of information and be a voice for community development. In total, the Chamber hosts more than 2,300 members.

Seated, left to right: Jay Young, Riverside Preparatory Academy; Deana Harper, Hall County Schools; Carol Burrell, Northeast Georgia Health System; Ed Asbridge, City of Flowery Branch; Leah Stevens, Lanier Islands Legacy Golf. Standing, left to right: Mike McGraw, Ranger Manufacturing; Fred Roddy, Gainesville Renaissance; Zack Loggins, Runners Fit; Eric Chini, Rochester DCCM; Dan Carey, Truist; Garrett Hibbs, Hall County Extension Service. Silver Shovel Award winners not pictured: Charlie Hawkins, Norton Commercial; Jeff Payne, Capstone Property Group; Dr. Anne Skleder, Brenau University.

From left to right: 2022-2023 Chamber Chairman William Bagwell, Homestead Investments; Kit Dunlap, Greater Hall Chamber President & CEO; 2023-2024 Chamber Chairman-Elect Glennis Barnes, Georgia Power; 2023-2024 Chamber Chairman Brett Fowler, Turner Wood & Smith Insurance.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2023/6/1190943/greater-hall-chamber-of-commerce-announces-new-executives-silver-shovel-awards