Chamber toasts ’11 award winners
Gonzales -- The Ascension Chamber of Commerce honored the Individual, Small Business and Large Business of the Year award winners at its annual Awards Banquet held Feb. 1 at the Clarion Inn and Conference Center.
Chamber Board Chairwoman Czarina Walker shared her experiences as a business owner who takes advantage of business and community opportunities through the chamber.
She said the chamber has afforded her a chance to get involved in the community and grow her business. She praised the chamber staff and board for their work in planning community projects and educational programs for chamber members.
The 2011 Individual of the Year nominees were Stephen Allain, Cox Business; Michael Buturla, Domain Design Architecture; Polly Whitfield, Waguespack and Associates Insurance; and Kamal Zaher, Kamal’s Kafe.
Individual of the Year Allain, an account executive with Cox Business, was the chamber’s 2011 Ambassador of the year and a 2011 Leadership Ascension graduate. He is past president of Business Associates of Ascension and a youth basketball coach.
Attorney Matt Pryor accepted the Small Business of the Year award on behalf of Pujol and Pryor, Attorneys at Law. Other Small Business nominees included MindWorx Marketing, River Parish Foods and St. Michel Day Spa. Walker said Pujol and Pryor have sponsored numerous events throughout the year, including the banquet and chamber’s golf tournament.
St. Elizabeth Hospital was named the Large Business of the Year. Other nominees were BASF, Cabela’s and Investar Bank.
Since 2000 St. Elizabeth Hospital “has provided convenient access to exceptional health care to the people of Ascension Parish,” Walker said in announcing the hospital’s nomination.
In partnership with the Parish of Ascension, the Gonzales hospital operates a community clinic for the care of uninsured residents, she said. St. Elizabeth sponsored a chamber Smart Start Breakfast and monthly membership luncheon in 2011, she said.
The mission of the Ascension Chamber of Commerce is to “facilitate and foster economic growth for our members,” according to the chamber’s website.