Annual Awards Dinner
2010 Annual Awards Dinner
Businesses Honored at Annual Awards Dinner
It was a time to celebrate the opportunities in this region when the business community came together for the Chamber’s Annual Awards Dinner on May 17th at Stratford Courtyard Conference Center.
Approximately 340 Chamber and community leaders attended this year’s dinner which also celebrated Business Appreciation Week. Spotlighting a theme of “A Commonwealth of Opportunity,” the dinner saluted outstanding accomplishments of area businesses, entrepreneurs, and educators.
2010 Large Business of the Year
First Piedmont Corporation
The Chamber’s 2010 Large Business of the Year has earned an impeccable reputation for providing safe, reliable, and economical waste hauling, disposal, and recycling services. First Piedmont Corporation's philosophy is to meet the needs of their customers by using the most environmentally sound methods available. This full service waste management company, headquartered in Chatham, serves 17 Virginia counties including most of south central Virginia and seven counties in north central North Carolina. Their special waste hauling division serves 13 states reaching west into Michigan and West Virginia, South to Alabama and Georgia, and north to Pennsylvania. Founded in 1969, First Piedmont is locally owned and operated. In 1972 the First Piedmont Landfill was opened in Ringgold, offering a transfer station, recycling center, and a full-service maintenance shop. First Piedmont's employees invest their time and energy into the community through Adopt-a-Highway programs, the Smith River Clean-Up, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club, Pittsylvania County youth sports teams, FIRST Robotics team sponsorship and mentoring, Rotary Clubs, Chambers of Commerce, and United Way.
2010 Medium Business of the Year
Danville Dental Associates
The 2010 Medium Business of the Year started in July 1976 as the private practice of Albert L. Payne, DDS, with one dentist, one receptionist, one dental assistant, and a bookkeeper. Today, Danville Dental Associates operates out of three locations and employs 46 full and part-time employees including six dentists: Dr. Albert Payne, Dr. Chris Payne, Dr. Jeff Clifton, Dr. Jeffrey Eskendri, Dr. James Evans, and Dr. Tamara Webster. In addition to the many services Danville Dental Associates offers to its patients, they attempt to offer dental services to less fortunate children in the area by accepting DentaQuest or Medicaid for children, offering Head Start screening days, and visiting area schools and preschools during Dental Health Month to provide oral health instruction and complimentary toothbrushes. Danville Dental also donates tooth brushes and toothpaste for mission trips and serves as sponsors for events that support Boys and Girls Club, Danville Parks and Recreation, United Way, Good News Jail and Prison Ministries, area schools and volunteer fire departments. The doctors also donate their time and services to The Free Clinic of Danville and Danville Community College Hygiene Clinic. The entire staff at Danville Dental Associates is committed to the advancement of their professions as well as to the advancement of our community.
2010 Small Business of the Year
Vaden and Associates
Our 2010 Small Business of the Year winner opened its doors on April 1st, 1989 with three employees. Since that time, they have quadrupled the volume of their business. Vaden and Associates has been a part of the downtown Danville landscape for a long time. From their renovated office space on Main Street, Dan and Vicky Vaden and Kim Demont have managed VIR's opening marketing and graphics design, created packaging design for Dan River Mills, co-founded Evince Magazine, and continue to create the monthly layout for both Evince and Showcase magazines. The business has won several awards including a state award for Best Sports Photography of the Year and Best in Show from the Virginia Press Association. Not only do they run a professional and award-winning graphics design firm, the business has supported numerous not-for-profit organizations. Dan, Vicky, and Kim continue to provide support and leadership to organizations such as Riverview Rotary Club, Caswell Council of the Arts, Danville Museum of Fine Arts, North Theater, Commission for Architectural Review for Danville, the Danville Mural Committee, and the Chamber, to name a few.
Emerging Enterprise Award
Donald and Marie Young
Owners of Gretna Theatre
Donald and Marie Young took a great risk when they left the Raleigh Durham area to pursue a business venture in the Town of Gretna, but from the day they arrived, they have supported the community enthusiastically and have contributed to the economic impact, cultural offerings, and beautification of Gretna and the surrounding area. Donald and Marie bought a building that originally housed a theatre in the mid 1900's and was later converted into a grocery store and dime store. The Youngs fell in love with the space and in October 2006 reopened the building as the Gretna Theatre. The theatre hosts the latest box office releases and also offers entertainment ranging from live concerts to theatrical play productions. The Youngs' contribution to the Gretna community doesn't stop with the theatre. They also own a car wash and are presently negotiating to bring Donald's construction company to Gretna's industrial park. Donald and Marie are committed to the Gretna community, supporting the high school sports teams, area churches, Gretna's downtown revitalization efforts, and many other charitable causes. The Emerging Entrepreneur award recognizes an entrepreneur who has invested in our region in the past five years to start or expand a business.
Enduring Enterprise Award
Charles Haynsworth III
President of Office Plus Business Centre
When the Haynsworth family started its business in Danville in 1937, the business was founded as an Underwood typewriter dealership. What makes this business unique is its ability to adapt to an ever-changing office environment with a focus on the most current technology and needs. Started by Charles Haynsworth, continued by his son Charles Jr., and now managed by the grandson, Charles III, Office Plus Business Center has seen significant changes over its 63-year history. In 1980 Charles III made the decision to enter the computer industry and close the audio and camera departments. In 1999 the business terminated its computer department due to decreasing profits brought on by direct sales by manufacturers. Today the company focuses on a new distribution model which incorporates direct pricing, with regional distribution providing faster delivery to their customers. Charles and Office Plus remain committed to our community through their support of God's Pit Crew, the YMCA, as president-elect of Danville Rotary Club, as a Scoutmaster, and as faithful member of First Presbyterian Church. The Enduring Entrepreneur award recognizes an entrepreneur that has endured the test of time.
Chamber Honors Region's Outstanding Educators
The Chamber realizes that strong schools are the result of a dedicated team including educators, students, parents, and the community working together. Each year the Chamber recognizes those on the front line of education in our region – our outstanding educators - who exemplify the highest degree of professionalism, care, and concern for the academic performance of our students. We are fortunate in our region to have many dedicated educators which makes the task of selecting just a few extremely difficult. The Chamber recognizes an elementary, middle, and high school educator from Danville and Pittsylvania County to represent all of our professionals who are fully engaged every day with our students.
Assisting the Chamber in the awards presentations were Dr. Sue Davis, Superintendent of Danville Public Schools, and Clarissa Knight of the Pittsylvania County School System. David Holshouser, chairman of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, also assisted.
Danville’s Elementary Educator of the Year was Joan Reynolds of I.W. Taylor Elementary School (left).
The Middle School Educator of the Year from the City of Danville was Laura Lowe of E.A. Gibson Middle School.
The City of Danville High School Educator of the Year was Ruby Hovatter of George Washington High School.
Pittsylvania County’s Elementary Educator of the Year from was Cindy Hughes of Twin Springs Elementary School (left).
The county's Middle School Educator of the Year was Terri Echols of Tunstall Middle School
The Pittsylvania County High School Educator of the Year was Adrian Nester of Tunstall High School.
