Anderson Chamber banquet honors community leaders

Anderson Chamber of Commerce held its 32nd Annual Awards Dinner Saturday at Win-River Casino to honor the city's leaders in business and among the community. The annual dinner attracted 237 people this year, well over the 168 attendees at 2008's dinner.

"And we're so grateful for that considering how bad the economy is," Anderson Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Irish Robertson.

Business of the Year was awarded to Anderson Florist & Gifts. This award honors the business that provides exceptional service to the community it serves, said Anderson Chamber of Commerce President Pamela Del Monte.

"The whole staff goes out of their way to do everything right," Robertson said of store owner Connie Blanc and her staff.

Distinguished Service Award was earned by Keith Webster.

He has been dubbed "Mr. Anderson" for his regular attendance at community functions, volunteerism and "pro-Anderson" personality, according to Del Monte.

"It's a title that comes with respect," Les Baugh said to Webster, "No one here doubts that you eat, sleep and breathe Anderson."

Both Janet Applegarth-Yarbrough and Carole Bartels were awarded the Grace Bell Memorial Award. The award is handed out to the woman of the year who has been in the business community for five years or more and has helped the community at large, Robertson said.

"Grace was well-named because she was graceful and social and a phenomenal business woman," Robertson added.

Applegarth-Yarbrough was lauded by Les Baugh for sharing the quality of "jumping in" to help during community functions as Grace Bell had.

Baugh also cheered Bartels for being a person who "cares about the community and loves what they do."

The Customer Service Award was earned by Jason Blake of Sign-A-Rama. The award was made to "recognize someone who people rave about for customer service," Robertson said.

Baugh congratulated Blake as a "great representative of the company he works for."

Profit from the awards dinner would be used by the Chamber to provide the community with business seminars and for other expenses incurred by Chamber activities, Robertson said.