Julie McCombs
William Grady, left, received the Chairman's Award for Excellence from Donna O. Smith (sponsor Berkshire Hathaway C. Dan Joyner Realtors) and outgoing Chamber Chairman of the Board Mark King.
Julie McCombs
Bernard Price received the Senator J. Verne Smith Award as he is flanked by sponsors Keith and Donna Smith. Chamber President/CEO Mark Owens is on the right.
Julie McCombs
Russell Ashmore was awarded the Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award.
Julie McCombs
Timothy Joner, center, was awarded the Sud Padget Volunteer of the Year Award by Rudy Painter (sponsor Countybanc Insurance) and Mark Owens. Nigel Roberson, of WYFF-TV, the event's emcee, is on the right.
Tony Kouskolekas, the President of Pelham Medical Center, is the 2016 board chair, taking over for from past chairman Mark King.
Scott Stevens, one of six honored with awards, received the Ryan Storrie Entrepreneur Award.
Ryan Storrie was only 29 when he died in January 2012, just months after realizing his dream of partnering in opening the Ember Restaurant on Trade Street. The restaurant closed shortly after Storrie’s death, however his passion and love for Greer inspired the annual award.
Lisa Garland, owner of the Stomping Grounds Coffee and Wine Shop was honored in 2013, and Jason Clark, an award-winning restaurateur with BIN112 and The Strip Club 104, A Steak House in downtown, was the 2014 winner.
“We were 2 doors down from Ember, and were excited to see what Ryan was building there. You could tell he was all-in from day one, and that Ember was going to succeed. He has truly been missed in downtown Greer,” remarked Scott. “To receive the award named for Ryan is a big honor.”
Stevens lives and works in downtown Greer at The Davenport. It serves as an event venue and his family, wife Lindsay, and sons, Tanner and Carter, live upstairs. Their family was a big part of the early residential growth in the central business district, and by spring 2016, a total of seven new apartments will be available to bring downtown living units to 13. Garland lived above the Stomping Grounds when she arrived in Greer and Clark lives above BIN112.
“Residential growth in downtown is key to supporting our existing retail and restaurants, and to attract new small business growth to our area”. Stevens said.
Stevens recently expanded his event business to include the management of Grace Hall, and the launch of Greer Event Rentals. “We feel the time is right to expand wisely”, commented Stevens.
“(Scott) brings business into Greer because of his love for Greer and built his businesses around that love,” Nigel Roberson, of WYFF-TV, emcee of the event, said.
Additionally, Stevens owns YourMark, a web site/programming/promotions company, serves as President of Greer Station Association, is a member of Partnership for Tomorrow, is on the Chamber’s 2016 Board of Advisors, and is a partner in GreerToday.com
Stevens was honored in 2015 for the Chamber’s Outstanding Leadership Award and in the small business awards as Social Media Champion.
Other award winners and awards sponsors were:
- Marion Waters, Educator of the Year, Greater Greer Education Foundation.
- Timothy Joner, Sud Paget Volunteer of the Year, Countybanc Insurance.
- Russell Ashmore, Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award
- William Grady, Chairman’s Award for Excellence, Berkshire Hathaway C. Dan Joyner Realtors
- Bernard Price, Senator J. Verne Smith Award, Keith and Donna Smith
- Scott Stevens, Ryan Storrie Entrepreneur Award
The keynote speaker was Tim Lowe, President of Lowes Foods, which is building its first upstate grocery store in Greer. Lowe presented Loaves and Fishes with a $5,000 check during the ceremony.
Mark Owens, President/CEO of the Chamber, introduced a GreerMade initiative.