Greater Minden Chamber’s 82nd Awards Gala is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, February 27, at the Minden Civic Center. The event will commence with a VIP Reception hosted by TravelCenters of America from 5:30 to 6:15 PM, followed by the gala, presented by Home Federal Bank, starting at 7 PM.
The gala, a highlight in the Chamber’s calendar, is expected to attract between 450 and 500 business professionals, making it the most attended event of its kind. The evening serves as the Annual Dinner where the Chamber will recognize outstanding individuals and businesses with awards such as Small Business of the Year, Business of the Year, Businessperson of the Year, Community Partner, Hometown Hero, Spirit of Hospitality, and the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Last year’s recipients included Meriwether Wealth & Planning for Small Business of the Year, Ace Hardware for Business of the Year, Dr. Naomi Coyle for Business Person of the Year, Minden Junior Service League for Community Partner of the Year, Kip Mourad for Hometown Hero, Sara McDaniel for Spirit of Hospitality, and Philip McInnis for the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Additional honors include the Man of the Year, sponsored by the Minden Lions Club, and the Woman of the Year, sponsored by the Young Women’s Service Club of Minden. In 2023, Tommy Davis was named Man of the Year, and Cindy Madden received the Woman of the Year award. This year, according to Steve Cropper of the Minden Lions Club, there were 29 men and 22 women nominated for these prestigious awards.
The gala will be hosted by Tracy Campbell and Jake Chapman, marking their fifth and final time as emcees. The evening’s theme, Arabian Nights, promises a lively and engaging atmosphere for all attendees.