Christian Peterson
Reporter@riverbendnews.org
On Saturday, Feb. 25, the Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce held its 75th Annual Gala. The evening was presented by First Federal Bank, and was an opportunity for Chamber members to join together and celebrate another successful year of helping Suwannee County and its businesses grow.
The event took place at the Cerveny Conference Center at Camp Weed. As attendees entered, they were able to take photos with their friends and coworkers to commemorate the evening. They spent the next hour socializing with other businesses around Suwannee County, building relationships and enjoying time with friends. There was a second photo booth once inside the main area with props and silly hats, encouraging the attendees to let their hair down a little and have some fun during the night. There was also a silent auction for members to bid on, offering trips to France, where one could explore the Champagne Region and Paris; Scotland, offering an opportunity to visit Loch Ness; Africa, which included an African photo safari; Tuscany, showing off the pleasures and treasures of the natural scenery; a weeklong trip to Greece and the Greek Islands; Capri, which is considered “the most romantic place on Earth”; an Alaskan Cruise and “Alluring Andalusia,” which shows off the best of Spain.
The gala then got underway with the announcement of the new Board of Directors, followed by a delicious dinner. Once dinner had come to a close, the night turned towards presenting awards to outstanding individuals. The 2023 Citizen of the Year award went to Kathleen Townsend; the 2023 Trailblazer award was granted to Bob McGranahan, and John D. Curls was named the 2023 Chamber Board Member of the Year. After the award winners were announced, the entertainment took the stage. HairDaze, an 80s cover band, took to the stage and played an assortment of classic rock for the attendees to dance to as they wrapped up their evening.