Duff Capital Investors was recognized as the 2018 Business of the Year during the Marion County Development Partnership’s 112th annual banquet Tuesday.
The firm owned by Columbia natives Tommy and Jim Duff includes 12 companies, seven of which are based in Marion County. They employ 631 people locally with a $20 million payroll.
“They could be located anywhere, but they made the decision to keep their headquarters in Marion County,” Mrs. Donald Hales, chair of the MCDP, said during the awards ceremony.
Stan Gwin, head of information technology for Duff Capital Investors, accepted the award at the BusinessPlex Tuesday on behalf of the Duffs.
The companies include Southern Tire Mart, KLLM Transport Services, Frozen Food Express, T.L. Wallace Construction, Deepwell Energy Services, Courtesy Ford, Forest Products Transports, Southern Insurance Group, Magnolia Inn & Suites, Pine Belt Motors, Duff Real Estate and Magnolia Grille.
Other awards given out during the program included:
Community Development Award: Looks Great Services for its help with downtown Columbia through donating the Fourth of July fireworks and doing the Christmas lighting. President Yolanda Agoglia accepted the award.
Rock Star of the Year: Stephanie Guidroz of Marion General Hospital. The award recognizes a volunteer who helps promote the MCDP in the community.
Ambassador of the Year: Dawn Baughman of First Southern Bank. Ambassadors help with chamber events like ribbon cuttings.
The banquet also included dinner and music from Big Rev’s Barbecue and River City Little Big Band, as well as door prizes from more than 40 local businesses. New MCDP President Lori Watts presided over the event for the first time and thanked her predecessor, Jerry Frazier, who remains as a consultant.
Pictured Above: Stan Gwin of Duff Capital Investors accepts the Business of the Year award Tuesday night from Marion County Development Partnership Chair Donald Hales. | Photo by Charlie Smith
