Doug and Kay Ivester were honored with the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce's distinguished citizen award Thursday night at the chamber's 113th annual gala.
Although limited to only 175 guests because of the pandemic, the gala also honored small and family businesses and celebrated a successful year of economic development.
"We are proud of the work of our chamber," Brian Rochester, the outgoing chairman of the chamber, said in his opening remarks. "We successfully accomplished our mission, creating new jobs from large and small businesses and new and existing businesses and providing education and leadership opportunities for our members. And surviving and thriving though a pandemic year."
Rochester of Rochester & Associates, ended his term as chairman at Thursday's event. Phil Sutton, vice president of Kubota Manufacturing in Gainesville, took the reins as chairman.
Here are the people and businesses who were honored:
Distinguished citizen award: Doug Ivester, a former chairman and CEO of the Coca-Cola Co., and his wife are natives of the New Holland in Hall County, which is where they met and fell in love.
Although their lives took them from Hall County, their love of the area is still evident. The couple helped underwrite the training of health care professionals at the Ivester College of Health Sciences at Brenau University. They are currently building Gainesville Renaissance, a $22.4 million mixed-use development on the Gainesville square. They have also provided funding for the Mary Inez Grindle School of Nursing and the Ernest Ledford Grindle Athletics Park in New Holland. The Ivester's foundation supports educational programs in Hall County and Gainesville.
"We are fortunate to have Doug and Kay," Rochester said. "They have shown, time and again, their commitment to ensuring Gainesville and Hall County remain vibrant and robust for generations to come."
Community Service Award: The Vision 2030 public art committee was awarded the community service award for its efforts to place art at various public places across Hall County.
Since 2015, the committee has seen more than $1.1 million invested through public-private collaborations. Frank Norton Jr. is the chairman of the committee, which has more than 40 active members. Elizabeth Higgins is the executive director of Vision 2030.
Small Business of the Year: Papa Jack's Country Kitchen is South Hall is one of two winners of the chamber's small business of the year award. Owner Bill Mays serves Southern, home-style meals at the restaurant that opened in 2005.
Mays said Papa Jack's, which expanded into a larger facility with a banquet room across from the original location, was able to thrive during the pandemic.
Willis Investment Counsel is the second winner of the Small Business of the Year award. Founded 41 years ago, Willis is an independent investment management firm, managing portfolios for corporations, families, foundations and endowment funds, as well as pension funds and 401(k) funds for clients in 15 states.
The firm is known for its community involvement, contributing to the Quinlan Visual Arts Center, the Northeast Georgia Health System and other organizations.
Family Business of the Year: Three D Cleaners was honored as a family business of the year. Danny and Mary Lee Dunagan founding the dry-cleaning company 43 years ago. Now with three locations, the company has 15 employees and a 5,000-square-foot plant that services all locations.
The Dunagan family is committed to the community. Danny Dunagan is currently mayor of Gainesville and has served on the City Council. They provide sponsorships and donations to area schools and nonprofits.
Cochran Brothers Electric is the other recipient of the family business of the year award. The company was started as Cochran Electric in 1977 by James Cochran. When he did three years later, his four sons rebranded the business at Cochran Brothers Electric. Most of the area most specialized electrical contractors, Cochran services many major industries including MarJac Poultry, Cargill, the Georgia Poultry Lab and National Beverage.
The family is active with Backpack Buddy, Habitat for Humanity, CASA and other community groups. The company also participates in the chamber's Workforce Development initiation.
W.G. Mealor Award: Glennis Barnes of Georgia Power is the recipient of the W.G. Mealor Award. It is named for the chamber's first chairman and is awarded to the chamber volunteer who has gone beyond the call of duty.
Besides his many projects with the chamber, Barnes is also on Gainesville-Hall County Development Authority, a member of the Northeast Georgia Health System advisory council and the University of North Georgia board of trustees.
