Ben Venable speaking to the crowd. Photo courtesy of Torie Suggs.

Chamber hands out annual rewards

By Michael Butler

The Tallassee Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards banquet on Thursday at the National Guard Armory. The event's return to Tallassee was a success with more than 200 attendees.

Ben Venable, director of network engineering for Alabama's Office of Information Technology (OIT), was the speaker. He serves as the president of the Southern Region of the National Association of State Technology Directors (NASTD).

Venable spoke about the advances in technology from the bag phone, which he had on display, to the handheld cellular devices with limitless options we use today.

Top photo: Neptune employees accepting the Business of the Year Award with Chamber president Torie Suggs and director Jerry Cunningham (left to right): Robert Hornsby, Kim Clayton, Abe Rigsby, Lacey Brewer, Tammy Timmerman, Suggs, Tim Bianchi, Cunningham, Rob Rygiel. Bottom photo (left to right): Cunnigham, Suggs, last year's Francis Wagnon winner Laura Leigh Peters, this year's recipient Suzannah Wilson.

The Business of the Year Award was given to Neptune Technology Group. Neptune has been in Tallassee since 1972.

Suzannah Solomon Wilson was the recipient of the Francis Wagnon Volunteer Award. Wilson has played an integral part in a variety of Tallassee events including the annual Daddy Daughter Dance. She helped launch the Tallassee High School Alumni Association and serves as its president today.

President's Awards were given to Caroline Herring and Joyce Vella.

"Nobody could argue with the winners," Chamber of Commerce director Jerry Cunningham said. "There are certainly others that are deserving, but everyone would have to agree they're deserving."

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