​Leaders in community service efforts honored by Athens Area Chamber of Commerce

As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce recently honored several Athenians who have been constant advocates for the community.

“It’s crucial for the business community to keep giving back,” incoming Chamber chair Dean Mannheimer of Athens First Bank & Trust told guests gathered Thursday evening at the Classic Center in downtown Athens for the group’s annual meeting.

​For the coming year, recognizing that Athens is known for highly valuing community service, the Chamber’s guiding principle will be “Fostering A Spirit of Service.”

Christy Terrell, Georgia Power’s external affairs manager for northeast Georgia, was among those who were honored for their commitment to community service. Terrell received an award that is presented annually to a woman who has dedicated her time to improving the quality of life for others in the community, and who actively mentors other women seeking leadership roles.

Terrell, whose list of civic involvements includes work with the United Way, LEAD Athens, Extra Special People, and serving as the Chamber chair in 2014, mentioned previous award winners.

“I am very honored to join that group of women,” Terrell told the crowd. Previous Athena Award recipients have included Joan Prittie of Project Safe, Athens-Clarke County Magistrate Judge Patricia Barron, and Athens-Clarke County Mayor Nancy Denson.

Terrell was among 10 women nominated for this year’s Athena Award. The other nominees were Candace Brabher, chief financial officer for the Barberitos franchise; Tiffany Burrows, who works in business development at Piedmont Athens Regional hospital; Jennifer Duvall, owner and founder of Jenny Sue Makeup; Janet Geddis, owner and founder of Avid Bookshop; Heather Leigh, owner of Foot Palace; Kitty Meyran, executive director of the local YWCO; Melaney Smith, founder of Books for Keeps, Tracy Thompson, executive director of Mercy Health Center and Laura Whitaker, executive director of Extra Special People.

Chamber President Doc Eldridge also looked back over his 10-year tenure in the job, noting that more than three-quarters of the businesses and other entities that provide the 60,000 jobs in Athens are members of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce.
 
“We have made sure that the business community has been involved,” Eldridge said.

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