Local residents received recognition of their efforts towards creating a stronger Marion County business community during the Marion County Development Partnership's 116th Annual Awards Gala. The event was held Feb. 17 at Magnolia Grille.
The evening began with a beautiful rendition of the national anthem by Julia Johnson, a Marion County Distinguished Young Woman.
Dinner was served buffet style as MCDP President Lori Watts introduced elected officials who were present. Mayor Justin McKenzie and Board of Aldermen members Mike Smith and Andrea Porter were there to represent the City of Columbia. Representing Marion County government were Circuit Clerk Janette Nolan and Chancery Clerk Elisha Moree.
MCDP Chairman of the Board Donovan McComb presented the awards for 2021.
The Emerging Leader award is given to someone from nominees chosen by the outgoing Leadership Marion County class that they feel exhibits the leadership qualities that will advance the program. This award went to Cole Price of Marion County Farm Bureau, and it automatically includes him in the next leadership class with a scholarship award. He began working with Farm Bureau in June 2020. He was previously named the 2021 Farm Bureau New Agent of the Year out of 5,000 agents.
MCDP board member presents the Emerging Leader award to Cole Price.
The most rousing applause was for Charles Boston, former Columbia High School football coach, who received a standing ovation when he was called for the You Make a Difference award. He won this award for a lifetime of giving to students and athletes in the Columbia School District. He was a guiding force during desegregation and again in the development of the new football stadium.
You Make a Difference award—Charles Boston
The Rock Star award was given to Laura Hobgood with Looks Great Services for going above and beyond the regular volunteer work and providing rock solid support to make a huge impact on the MCDP. Hobgood was integral in the downtown Christmas events and Experience Columbia, and she is very active in the community.
Rock Star award—Laura Hobgood
Columbia Gearheads founder, and organizer of the annual Christmas luncheon, Stacey Cavanaugh received the Spirit of Giving award. In 2021, she held a luncheon for a fifth year, feeding hundreds of people during the holiday season.
Spirit of Giving—Stacey Cavanaugh
Cavanaugh said she is "very honored to be chosen to receive the Spirit of Giving award. The most rewarding part of what I do is seeing the smiles on people's faces because they haven't been forgotten." She said she could not have done what she has without Maria Temples, Mike Nolan, her husband, Nick, and the community.
Tracy Dyess of The Flower Shop on Church Street was given the Heart of Entrepreneurship award for finding ways to make the business work and to increase revenues during the pandemic. The Flower Shop opened in 2017, and Dyess immediately got involved in the community and the MCDP. She makes sure the shop is involved in most every event that happens in the downtown area. In 2021, the Vendors Market was opened at the shop, which showed even more her ability to collaborate with businesses and the community.
Heart of Entrepreneurship—Tracy Dyess
After a tornado struck The Columbia-Marion County Public Library in December 2019, the staff there did not just close up shop until the building could be repaired. They packed up what they could and moved to an alternate location. Then the pandemic hit and shut down life as the county knew it. The library implemented programs to continue serving the community such as curbside service and online reading programs. This earned them the Resiliency award. Director Ryda Worthy and Branch Manager Mona Swayze accepted the award for the library staff for never giving up. The new library building opened in spring 2021.
Resiliency award—Columbia-Marion County Public Library (Ryda Worthy and Mona Swayze)
The MCDP Ambassadors are the good-will representatives of the MCDP. They encourage participation and recruit new members. The Ambassador of the Year award goes to the ambassador with the most active participation in MCDP activities for the year. This year, that recognition went to Juanita Stovall, who works at City Hall and owns Luxe & Sweet, LLC.
Ambassador of the Year—Juanita Stovall
Stovall said she is honored, and that she loves Columbia and Marion County as a whole.
"It's my home, and I want people to know how great it is. We have almost everything that all the larger cities have but with that hometown feel, she said.
Marion County Farm Bureau, chartered in 1923, was given the Business of the Year award. Farm Bureau has made significant contributions to the economy and quality of life throughout Marion County. The office has a staff of eight that serves 2,567 members or roughly 10% of all Marion County residents. They won not only the award by Price, but they also won the Woman's Achievement Award for Agriculture in the Classroom and the Southern Farm Bureau Agency of the Year award. They feed their members annually, even as a drive-through meal during the pandemic, and they support the Board of Supervisors Farmer's Market on High School Avenue. They host an annual farm safety day that teaches every fifth grader about safety measures, including four-wheeler and farm equipment safety. They support Dixie Youth baseball and many other groups.
The MCDP recognized this year's Leadership cohort by showing a video of their experiences at Entre-Con, a business and leadership conference in Pensacola, Fla. They showed their final project, a commercial they created to showcase Marion County.
