Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Excellence at 2025 SAGE Awards & Annual Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Excellence at 2024 SAGE Awards & Annual Meeting

Statesville, NC – The Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce hosted its prestigious SAGE (Statesville Area Growth and Excellence) Awards and Annual Meeting on February 26 at the Statesville Civic Center. 

Shannon Viera, IOM, President, and CEO of the Chamber, welcomed guests and introduced Rev. Jeremy Cannada, who delivered an invocation. John Brown of Denso, the Title Sponsor of the event, spoke about Denso’s commitment to the business community and their partnership with the Chamber.

Viera opened the annual meeting with an overview of the Chamber’s accomplishments over the past year and introduced the program of work for 2025. This was followed by panel discussion featuring John Childress, owner of Banner Drug & The Greenbriar Grill, who spoke about the Chamber's Leadership Statesville program. For more than 37 years, the Statesville Chamber has facilitated this program, encouraging community members to become leaders committed to serving on nonprofit boards and engaging in projects that enhance the region’s quality of life.

Following this, Lisa Familo, Executive Director of Iredell County Partnership for Young Children, addressed the Chamber’s state advocacy issue for this year on the Childcare Crisis Initiative. She emphasized how the childcare crisis significantly impacts families and local businesses, noting that five childcare facilities closed last year, making it increasingly difficult for parents to work and for businesses to hire the workforce they need.

Jeff Taylor HR Director of Piedmont HealthCare then spoke about the Chamber’s Education and Talent Committee, highlighting its mobile STEM initiative, which provides STEM experiences to children throughout the county. This initiative brings together educators and business leaders to address both immediate and long-term workforce needs.

Ron Matthews, the 2025 Board Chair, thanked Charles Ashe, the 2024 Board Chair, for his service and formally accepted the gavel for 2025. Matthews and Ashe then proceeded to recognize this year’s award recipients:

2024 SAGE Award recipients:

• Business of the Year (Large Enterprise) – Tim Johnson Landscaping

• Business of the Year (Small Enterprise) – Animal Hospital of Statesville

• Community Impact of the Year – Boys & Girls Club of the Piedmont

• Launch Business of the Year – The Watering Hole

• Innovator of the Year – HunkAJunk Hauling

• Partners in Education Excellence – Iredell County Crosby Scholars Community Partnership

• Leader in Advocacy Excellence – Mountaire Farms

• Volunteer of the Year – John Childress

• Ambassador of the Year – Ayana Pass

Fusion Award Recipients:

The Fusion Award recognizes individuals and organizations that work collaboratively to preserve and promote the history, culture, and economic vitality of Statesville. The 2024 recipients include:

• Statesville Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Statesville Historical Collection

• Dorothy Woodard

• North Carolina African American Heritage Commission

Inaugural Chairman’s Awards:

The 2024 Chairman’s Award was introduced this year to recognize organizations that exemplify excellence across the Chamber's core focus areas: Business, Leadership Development, Education & Talent, Community & Advocacy. The inaugural honorees are:

• Denso

• Iredell Health System

• Piedmont HealthCare

Citizen of the Year Award:

The final award of the evening, the Citizen of the Year Award, was presented by Bill Brater. Sponsored by Nicholson Funeral Home, this award honors an individual who has demonstrated outstanding dedication, commitment, and selflessness in their volunteer work. This year’s recipient was Brett Eckerman, Executive Director of the Iredell County United Way.

The evening was a true celebration of excellence, innovation, and leadership within the Statesville community. As the Chamber continues its mission to foster economic growth, support local businesses, and develop future leaders, events like the SAGE Awards serve as a testament to the strength and dedication of Statesville’s business and nonprofit sectors. For more information about the SAGE Awards or the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce, please contact 704-873-2892 Ext. 0 or [email protected].