TWIN CITIES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AWARDS NOMINEES LISTED

The Twin Cities Chamber of Commerce, Fulton, Ky. - South Fulton, Tenn., has announced the nominees submitted by the public for their annual awards, including Citizen of the Year, Young Professional of the Year, First Responder of the Year, Business of the Year and Industry of the Year.

Twin Cities Chamber of Commerce Board members will vote for their selections to be awarded in each category, unless a board member is listed as a nominee. In the category for which the board member is nominated, that board member will not participate in the voting. Board members include Sherry Pyatt, Lisa Pruitt, Anna McCoy, Melissa Brown, Dixie Major, Chad Coffman, Shelby Dallas, Darcy Linn, Peggy Lohaus, Joyce Gray, Harrison Hawks, Dana Lawrence and Mason Lee.

Winners will be announced at the annual Twin Cities Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet April 18 at Southern State in South Fulton, as well as in The Current April 19.

The first set of nominees submitted are for First Responder of the Year. These men and women all have to handle their jobs with the utmost urgency, care, and caution. From Dispatch to Fire, EMT, Police, Sherriff's Office, Emergency Management, and Rescue these men and women do amazing jobs keeping our cities safe. Not only do these people go into some of these calls blindly with little information. But when the need arises, they come together and work as a team to handle the good, the bad, and the ugly. Those nominees submitted include
Kenneth Walker, Mitchell Maynard, Allen Poole, Mike Gunn, Eric Byassee, Joe Smith and Nathan Lamb.

Nominations submitted to honor businesses cover a broad range of qualities, with each one brings something different to the table. There would not be a Chamber or functioning cities without each and every one of them. Whether you are excelling in friendliness and customer service, are contributing and providing back to the community, or just a great business (which you all are), the Chamber thanks you for choosing the Twin Cities to have your business. Those nominees for Business of the Year are First Community Bank of the Heartland, Inc. , Stephen's Flower Truck, Fancy Fannie's Bakery, Evans Drug Company, Sweet Magnolia Home, Hornbeak Funeral Chapel, Southern State, P&R Tire, The Meadows Hotel, Buttercup's Bistro, Constant Online Auctions and Vaughn's Grill.

Industry of the Year nominees chose our area and are a vital part of our cities. Our industries bring resources and jobs and are always willing to support the community. Several of them give back by sponsoring different events or Youth Sports teams as well as help local charities raise funds. We couldn't do it without you. Congratulations to our nominees for Industry of the Year, Waymatic, Inc., Premier Portable Buildings, Tyson Foods, Jackson Purchase Distillery, Berry Global, Kayser Automotive Systems, and USA Just Trailers.

Citizen of the Year nominations include people we see everyday with boots on the ground, so to speak, that are just trying to help our community in any way they can. They do it tirelessly without complaint and there several on this list that have done so for years with slowing down. We want to thank each and everyone of our nominees for the time and effort they put in giving back to our community. The nominees are Jesse Webb, Patrick Horner,

Terri Hodges, Kenney Etherton, Darcy Linn, Melanie Gunn, Shelby Dallas, Sherry Cook-Pyatt, Lynnita Pierce and Chris Powell.

Young Professional of the Year nominations include people who have shown that they are driven, ambitious, and willing to do the hard work. And when the going gets tough, they push right through! Keep in mind these people are all under the age of 40 and not only strive to do their job to the best of their capabilities or run their business. But every one of these nominees have done something to give back to the community. The nominees are

Mason Lee, Andrew Gibson, Mitchell Maynard, Anthony Constant, Sherry Cook-Pyatt, Dixie Major, Kenneth Walker and Alex Robinson.

Nominees for Educator of the Year are now in, submitted by each school. We rely on these people to teach, and help nurture and grow our children and they do a fantastic job. Each of these nominees not only teach but have other responsibilities as well. These candidates look at teaching as more than just a job and are invested in the development of our Children. Nominees include Tina Hill (1st grade, South Fulton elementary), Cheryl Ogg ( 6-12th alternative South Fulton Middle), Carmen Barclay (9-12th Health Occupations South Fulton high), Tiffanie Fields ( 1st Grade Fulton Independent Carr Elementary), Melissa Martin (6-8th grade math Fulton Independent Middle), Kathy Thweatt (9-12th Chemistry and Marine Biology, Fulton Independent High).