GVACC celebrates year of growth, honors local leaders
BY SAM VISE
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
CHAMBERS COUNTY — Local business leaders, civic figures and community partners gathered Sept. 17 at the Burrow Warehouse in West Point, Georgia, for the Greater Valley Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Annual Membership Meeting.
The evening celebrated a year of regional economic growth, welcomed new board leadership, recognized standout local businesses and volunteers and named the grand marshal for the upcoming holiday season before concluding with an interactive jewel-heist murder mystery performance.
Adrian Holloway, executive director of Chattahoochee Hospice and GVACC board member, opened the program with a welcome and invocation.
“We are truly blessed to have such strong businesses, organizations, community leaders and individuals who believe in the Greater Valley area and support the continued work of the chamber,” Holloway said.
Following Holloway, board member and Knauf Insulation Plant Manager Jeremy Williams recognized the extensive roster of community sponsors and evening vendors.
Dinner was catered by Johnny’s New York Style Pizza of West Point, with a cocktail hour hosted by LaGrange Grocery Co. and evening entertainment sponsored by Diamond sponsor Grossman Law Firm LLC. Additional top-tier sponsors included Platinum sponsors Kia Georgia Inc., Knauf Insulation and LaGrange Grocery; Gold sponsor West Fraser; and Silver sponsors AJIN USA and Smurfit Westrock.
Board member Fran Groover delivered the 2025-2026 Year in Review, reflecting on a milestone period that saw GVACC welcome 21 new members.
“When we look back at this past year, it’s important to remember the chamber is much more than meetings and ribbon cuttings,” Groover said. “It’s about the people. It’s about connecting businesses with one another, creating opportunities for our young people, supporting our local businesses, promoting our community and creating events that bring people together, and this past year has certainly been a busy one.”
Groover highlighted a steady schedule of grand openings, four Vibe After Five mixers, four Commerce and Coffee gatherings and practical Lunch and Learns focusing on artificial intelligence and navigating the workforce with Gen Z.
Looking back at signature community events, Groover spotlighted downtown LaFayette’s Rocking Fest on the Square — which hosted 72 vendors and debuted the world’s largest Santa jumper alongside its landmark giant rocking horse — and the second annual Shop ‘Til Thursday initiative, which saw 23 participating merchants and 423 local shoppers keep their holiday dollars close to home.
Groover also recapped the first chamber-coordinated Christmas parade, which drew 147 entries, four marching bands and mayors from all four area cities while raising $3,000 for local food banks.
The meeting also celebrated civic youth engagement through the 38-student Junior Ambassador Program, the 11th annual Real Life 101 conference at Southern Union State Community College for roughly 300 students, the inaugural Clover and Coals: Battle of the Badges barbecue cook-off won by East Alabama Fire, the fourth annual Kids Fishing Rodeo and the recent Taco Bowl matchup at San Marcos.
“Our chamber has spent the summer planning, evaluating and looking for ways to build upon what has worked while creating new opportunities for our members and our community,” Groover said. “Our goal is simple: to help make the Greater Valley area a place where businesses can succeed, families can thrive and where people want to live, work, visit and invest. And we could not do that without all of you.”
Following the review, the chamber honored its volunteer ambassador corps, presenting Kimberly Rose of SouthState Bank with the Ambassador of the Year award.
The chamber then presented its annual membership awards across seven categories:
Emerging Business of the Year: Magnolia Social Company
Small Business of the Year: The Mustardseed Mercantile
Business of the Year: Kenny Knox Tire Center
Restaurant Business of the Year: Pokey’s 8th St. Grill
Industrial Business of the Year: Knauf Insulation
Community Mover and Shaker of the Year: Adrian Holloway
GVACC Executive Director Carrie Wood took the podium to recognize outgoing board members David Wilkerson (AJIN USA), Rob Huling (Farmers & Merchants Bank) and Rhonda Davis (Southern Union State Community College).
Wood also introduced the incoming 2026-2027 Board of Directors: President Stan Newton (4 Seasons Heating & Air), Eddie Adams (Rock ’N A Farms), Adrian Holloway (Chattahoochee Hospice), Ben Hamilton (Johnny’s New York Style Pizza), Christy Stephens (Capital City Bank), Fran Groover (Chambers County Board of Education), Greg Nichols (EAMC-Lanier), Jake Key (McCoy & Key LLC), Jeremy Williams (Knauf Insulation), Kesha Edwards Coniglio (Pack ’N Ship & Burrow Warehouse), Kirby Hadaway (Wooshin USA), Mary Susan Underwood (Point University) and Heather Weldon (The Oaks Farm).
In a new tradition, Wood revealed the 2026 Christmas Parade Grand Marshal: longtime community fixture Wayne Clark.
“He is someone who seems to know everyone and knows about everything that has ever happened around here, and if you ever need to know the history behind a person, business or an event in the Greater Valley area, there’s a pretty good chance he knows the story,” Wood said. “His dedication, relationships and willingness to help have made a lasting impact on the Greater Valley area.”
Before dismissing guests for dinner and the show, Wood left the crowd with a message on community unity.
“The chamber is not one person, one business or one organization,” Wood said. “The chamber is all of us, every one of you sitting in this room tonight. It is the businesses that open their doors every morning. It is the volunteers who give their time. It is the community leaders who continue to invest in this area. It is the young people who are learning what it means to be a leader, and it is every one of you who continues to believe in the Greater Valley area.”
Following dinner, the evening transitioned to interactive entertainment produced by The Murder Mystery Co. Guests were emersed in a comedic jewel-heist investigation involving the theft of the fictitious, multi-trillion-billion-dollar Stomach of the Ocean diamond.
Attendees moved from table to table questioning suspects and gathering clues before identifying character Flynn to Space as the culprit, wrapping up the annual meeting with an evening of lighthearted community connection.
