Photo: Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce President/CEO C. Wayne Mitchell, left, and Chairman Elect Claire Robbins congratulate City Manager Jim Jeffers as the 2019 Citizen of the Year.
Nacogdoches County Chamber announces annual awards recipients
The Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce board of directors recently selected the award recipients for the 2019 Gary Justice Business Excellence Awards, the Citizen of the Year and the Non Profit of the Year. All will be recognized at the chamber's 98th Annual Meeting and Membership Banquet on Tuesday, Sept. 24. The banquet will be held at the presenting sponsor's venue, The Fredonia Hotel and Convention Center, 200 N. Fredonia St. in the Nacogdoches historic downtown district. Attendees are invited to a social hour at 6 p.m. before the program start at 7 p.m.
The 2019 Gary Justice Business Excellence Awards, Citizen of the Year and Non Profit of the Year recipients are:

• Southside Animal Clinic, Small Business of the Year - award sponsored by Commercial Bank of Texas, N.A.
• Casa Tomas, Medium Business of the Year - award sponsored by Regions Bank.
• Pilgrim's Corporation, Large Business of the Year - award sponsored by R&K Distributors, Inc.
• Jim Jeffers, Citizen of the Year - award sponsored by Tipton Ford Lincoln.
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Deep East Texas, Non Profit of the Year - award sponsored by Charles Pool Real Estate, Inc.

The 2019-2020 chamber board of directors are inducted at the event and current Chairman Ray Mitchum, SFASU Development Office, "passes the gavel" to Chairman Elect Claire Robbins, Manpower Group.
"We are recognizing an elite group of businesses and people who have made numerous contributions in our community and made Nacogdoches a better place to live and work," Robbins said. "My theme for my leadership year as chair of the board is 'fellowship, fun and forward thinking into the chamber's next century.' I look forward to working with my fellow chamber directors as we cultivate relationships, encourage teamwork and provide learning opportunities to improve our economy and our quality of life."
Members of the annual meeting and banquet planning committee working with event Chair Betty Shinn are Charlotte Ashcraft, Leigh Anne Carver, Haley Compton, Katy Crawford, Jefferson Davis, Donna Finley, John Fleming, Keith Hand, Grace Handler, Scarlett Long, Ray Mitchum, J. Bradley Reynolds, Claire Robbins, Ryan Russell, Hannah Walker and Scott Waller.
Event sponsorships are available. Contact the Nacogdoches County Chamber, 936-560-5533, for more information.