TRYON – The Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce held their 29^th annual awards dinner at Melrose Inn on Tuesday, Jan. 31. The theme of the dinner was “Lights! Camera! Action!”

 

The Chamber gave out six awards including two barbecue festival awards, the Skip Seaman Volunteer of the Year award, the Outstanding Citizen of the Year award, the Business Person of the Year award and the Duke Energy Citizenship and Service award.

 

Janet Sciacca, executive director of the chamber, and Kathy Toomey, president of the chamber, presented the awards at the dinner along with Government & Community Relations Manager Craig DeBrew of Duke Energy. DeBrew presented the Duke Energy Citizens and Service Award at the end of the ceremony.

 

Toomey presented the first barbecue festival awards to 2016 Chairman Eric McKaig and 2015 Chairman Mike Karaman for volunteering at the festival in previous years. Judging Hospitality Chair Sue Brace, VIP Hospitality Chair Janice Norton, Entertainment Chair Joe McConnell and McKaig were also recognized as outgoing chair members on the barbecue festival committee.

 

During the ceremony, Toomey said the awards were chosen by the membership of the chamber and said the recipients stood out for their efforts and needed to be recognized.

 

“There are no doubt many deserving people and their businesses in our communities,” Toomey said. “We appreciate the service of many. The ones chosen have stood out for their efforts and need to be recognized for their contributions to the community as outlined in the criteria for the awards.”

 

Dulcie Juenger, who has served on the Upstairs Artspace board, the Landrum Area Business Association board and the Tryon Downtown Development Association board, was the recipient of the Skip Seaman Volunteer of the Year award.

 

The award, Toomey said, is presented to someone who “goes over and above to help make a difference in the community with their unselfish service.” According to Toomey, Seaman volunteered with the Chamber from 1988 until 2001 and was the “benchmark of volunteerism.”

 

“When we see someone who is always present at meetings and other events, always the first one to respond to a request for help, attends just about every ribbon cutting, with enthusiasm, this person (Juenger) has stood out as a valuable volunteer and ambassador for the chamber of commerce,” Toomey said.

 

The Outstanding Citizen of the Year award was presented to Suzanne Strickland, owner of Stone Soup Restaurant in Landrum.

 

“This person (Strickland) has created a brand for our region,” Toomey said. “This initiative became organized and through tremendous work created a marketing brochure, a website, banners, culinary tours, the Art of the Horse and generated roughly 45 articles in over 15 different media outlets.”

 

Ann Gargiulo, owner of Vines of Tryon, was the recipient of the Business Person of the Year award.

 

“This business (Vines of Tryon) just surpassed 22 years of operation, and this individual (Gargiulo) has operated it for the past 16 years and has become a thriving anchor and destination,” Toomey said. “Partnering with other local businesses, they have focused on providing well trained staff and becoming a well-respected business that supports the town’s motto of ‘The Friendliest Town in the South.’”

 

Patti Lovelace, lead animal cruelty investigator in Polk County and executive director of the Foothills Equine Rescue and Assistance (FERA) organization, was the recipient of the Duke Energy Citizenship and Service award. DeBrew presented the award to Lovelace at the end of the ceremony.