Bank of Holly Springs
Article Image Alt Text

Photo by Sue Watson
Sarah Sawyer (left), executive director of the Byhalia Area Chamber of Commerce, smiles after she was surprised at being chosen Leader of the Year by the Chamber. With Sawyer is Montie Hamblen.

Article Image Alt Text

Health 1st Family Medical Clinic won the Customer Service Award. Accepting the award, presented by the Byhalia Area Chamber of Commerce are, from left, Savannah Gadd, Jessika Harris, Jackie McDaniel, Jennifer McMinn, Erin McMinn, Venita Raimey and Jennifer Hatfield.

Article Image Alt Text

Chamber executive director Sarah Sawyer is joined by family members after being surprised with the Leader of the Year Award. From left are Vic Crain (brother), Charles Crain (brother), Sarah Sawyer, Rebecca Sawyer (daughter-in-law) and Scott Sawyer (son).

Article Image Alt Text

The Marshall County Historical Museum was selected to receive the Non-profit of the Year Award by the Byhalia Area Chamber of Commerce. Accepting the award are Jennifer Bone, assistant, left, and Merideth Gray, museum director.

Article Image Alt Text

Photos by Sue Watson
Sarah Kinkade, daughter of Bill and Debbie  Kinkade, is presented the Board Member of the Year Award by outgoing Chamber president Terry Griffith.

Sawyer chosen Leader of Year

She has spent the last 20 years putting others first. But last Thursday, the Byhalia Area Chamber of Commerce pulled a switcheroo by tapping Chamber executive director Sarah Sawyer for recognition as Leader of the Year.

The Chamber awards are handed out once a year to recognize outstanding leadership, customer service, non-profit organizations and a Chamber board member.

Montie Hamblen, former staff member of BACC, said she knew Sawyer would never let herself be nominated for the award. So she and Rep. Bill Kinkade huddled and realized that more people were thinking the same thing. Sarah Sawyer needed to be recognized for her leadership.

“I didn’t work under Sarah’s direction for years and not learn anything,” Hamblen said. “So, Bill and the other board members got behind me and got the ball rolling.”

Hamblen connived with Dr. Clifton Rodgers at the Byhalia Family Health Center to have him stand in as the nominee. The names would be switched at the awards luncheon.

“I am very grateful for our fake nominee, because he was very deserving of this award, also,” Hamblen said. “He was thrilled and also agreed Sarah deserved the award. Special thanks to the clinic staff for sending in nomination forms and biographical sketches and to everyone else who played a part in pulling this surprise together.

“I love her to the moon and back. She’s my mentor and we probably couldn’t count the people she has influenced during her career.”

“She would have never allowed herself to be nominated,” said Sheri Perrette, assistant director of the Chamber.

It was said that Sawyer has “copiloted the ship” of the Chamber. She has spearheaded many events and is seen by many in the business community as “The Ambassador” of  Byhalia.

Sawyer has served as executive director of BACC for 20 years and has been affiliated with the Chamber 21 years.

Non-Profit Award

The Marshall County Historical Museum won the award for Non-Profit of the Year for its longstanding hard work and dedication to Marshall County.

The domestic environment of the museum gives an impression that everyone who walks in the door is welcome to stay a while.

“Anyone visiting the museum enjoys it, but mostly they see the love and attention the past directors Lois Swaney, Chelius Carter and now director Merideth Gray and Jennifer Bone and many volunteers have put into the historic museum,” the nominating committee wrote. “The place is more like a grandmother’s attic than a museum.”

The museum is visited by people from all over the country and world.

Everything in the museum has been donated by the people of Marshall County, their families or friends.

The museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and originally served as a girls dormitory of the Mississippi Synodical College during the early 1900s.

Customer Service Award

Health 1st Family Medical Clinic in Byhalia won the Customer Service of the Year Award.

Owner Jennifer McMinn expressed appreciation to the Byhalia community for the recognition of the 12-year-old business.

Many of the staff were also recognized, including Jennifer Hatfield with the business office; nurses Kristen Curl, Jessika Harris and Savannah Gadd; receptionist and collections Ashley Chandler; Katrena Towery, part-time FNP; Jackie McDaniel, FNP; plus Venita Raimey, Erin McMinn and Heather Davis.

Board Member of Year

Sarah Kinkade, daughter of Rep. Bill and Debbie Kinkade, was selected as Board Member of the Year, for her willingness to step up and volunteer. She has been a leader on the board of directors and chaired the Sounds of Summer festival this year and the financial committee.

Kinkade has served two years as a board member. Her father is also a board member and has served as president of the board of the Chamber.

Kinkade has a varied background with administration and leadership roles. She likes to know the “how” and the “why” for the ways things are done.

“When you know the ‘why,’ you have a greater respect for the process which benefits all those around you,” Kinkade said.

Her nomination cited her organizational skills, problem solving and program development skills.

But most of all, Kinkade was appreciated for being “a team player.”

“Sarah (Kinkade) has the Byhalia area in her heart and soul and it shows,” said the nominating committee.

“We appreciate Sarah’s steady personality and her ability to get things done for the betterment of the Chamber and the community.”

Holly Springs South Reporter

P.O. Box 278
Holly Springs, MS 38635
PH: (662) 252-4261
FAX: (662) 252-3388
www.southreporter.com