Thursday night the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce recognized several local business leaders for their dedication and accomplishments in the community.
This is the 30th year they have held their annual awards dinner and it just keeps growing every year.
Almost 600 people packed into the Edgewater Resort for the ceremony, including local elected officials, business owners, and community members.
During the dinner, the chamber said goodbye and thank you to their former Chairman of the Board Jayna Leach with the Past Chairman’s award. They also said hello to their new Chairman Ryan Davis.
Five other people were recognized with awards like the Young Professional of the Year award, the Business Excellence Award and the biggest honor of the night, which was the Pioneer of the Year.
That prestigious award went to the Bay County Tourist Development Council Executive Director, Dan Rowe.
“This was absolutely and completely a surprise to me and I’m just very thankful and I’m very humbled. Panama City Beach has been very good to me in the nine and a half years that I’ve been here and I’ve been able to pour heart and soul into running the TDC and to be recognized by the Beach’s Chamber of Commerce is really, it’s a wonderful, wonderful experience and I really, I mean, it’s just humbling,” said Dan Rowe, Pioneer of the Year Award Winner.
Here is a list of the other winners:
Catherine Collins, Marketing Manager of Resort Collection – Young Professional of the Year Award
Talena Grawburg of ServPro Bay County – Jean L. Schaffer Ambassador of the Year Award
Bo Williamson and Noble Public Adjusting Group – Business Excellence Award
Jimy Thorpe with A Superior Air Conditioning – Humanitarian of the Year
