A Night to Remember: Celebrating Excellence at the Hart Chamber Awards

What a night!

The Hart Chamber Awards brought together the very best of our business and nonprofit community for an evening filled with fun, laughter, and yes, a few tears. It was a celebration of leadership, service, entrepreneurship, and heart. From the moment guests walked through the doors, it was clear this was going to be something special.

The program included a powerful look back at 2025 and an inspiring glimpse into 2026. It has been a year full of momentum, growth, and action for Hart County, and the energy in the room reflected just that. The Hart Chamber team put on a stunning show that highlighted not only individual achievements but the collective success of our entire community.

2025 Award Winners

We were proud to recognize the following outstanding leaders and organizations:

Non Profit of the Year
Pilot Club of Hartwell

Chamber Volunteer of the Year
Kayla Segars

Community Champion
Refried

Women in Business
Kim Higginbotham

Excellence in Agriculture
Brian Fleming

Small Business of the Year
Common Ground

Young Professional of the Year
Amanda Brown

Business Person(s) of the Year
Jeff and Jodi Gray

Impact Business of the Year
Titan Steel Door

Jack Edmonds Lifetime Achievement Award
Kay Cleveland

Each recipient represents the very best of Hart County. Their leadership, generosity, and commitment to community make a lasting impact that goes far beyond business success.

A First for the Chamber: The Silent Auction

This year also marked an exciting milestone. We hosted our very first Silent Auction to benefit the Nicki Meyer Scholarship. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors and bidders, we raised over $1,500. For a first time effort, that is something to celebrate. We cannot wait to see how this grows in the years to come and continues to invest in the next generation of leaders.

Thank you to the following auction item donors:
Sunlife Marinas 
April May Photography
Cateechee
Hart of Christmas
Karew Sports & Imprinting
Nancy Butler
Marguerette Shackleford
Amber Howell
Backstreet BBQ
"Anonymous Donor" 

A Community Effort

Events like this do not happen without an incredible team behind the scenes.

A special thank you to The Station of Hartwell for hosting us and providing a wonderful dinner.
Thank you to Greg Hall and Company for the beautiful décor that transformed the space.
We appreciate Karew Sports and Imprinting for the trophies that our winners will proudly display.
And thank you to April May Photography for capturing every special moment of the evening.

To our board members and ambassadors, thank you for the countless hours spent preparing for this event. Your dedication ensures that nights like this feel seamless and meaningful. A very special thank you to Emma Durfee, Jennifer O’Neal, Jerrine Jackson, and Daniel Tindol for serving on the planning committee and helping bring the vision to life.

The Hart Chamber Awards are more than a ceremony. They are a reminder that in Hart County, business and community go hand in hand. When we celebrate one another, we strengthen the foundation for even greater success ahead.

Here’s to an incredible 2026. We are just getting started.