The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce will host its 11th Annual ANCHOR Awards program on Wednesday, August 14. This program was created to honor, reward, and celebrate the achievements of outstanding small businesses and nonprofit organizations in the community. Sponsorship opportunities and tickets are available. This year’s Keynote Speaker is Bob Covington, chief community development and leadership officer of the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA).
Robert “Bob” Covington leads the Asset Development, Entrepreneur Center, Minority and Small Business Development and Energy and Natural Resources divisions promoting community and leadership development across the state. Since coming to MDA, he has also served as director of the Minority and Small Business Development Division and earlier as Business Development and Trade Manager.
Prior to coming to MDA, Covington worked in the automotive and commercial supplier sector. He attended Mississippi State University, where he received both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees.
Covington is a member of the Mississippi Economic Council and the Mississippi Economic Development Council and is certified by the National Development Council as an Economic Development Finance Professional. He currently resides in Brandon.
The ANCHOR Awards program will be held on August 14, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at Pelican Landing Conference Center in Moss Point. Tickets and Gold and Silver level sponsorships are available. Contact Linda Johnson at JohnsonL@jcchamber.com or 228-762-3391 about sponsorship opportunities. Tickets can be purchased from the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce online (www.jcchamber.com), in person (720 Krebs Avenue in Pascagoula), via email (Membership@jcchamber.com) or over the phone (228-762-3391).
The Chairman of this year’s ANCHOR Awards is Shannon van Duijvendijk, owner of Southern Belles Like Big Bows in Pascagoula. The ANCHOR Awards falls under the Chamber’s Small Business Issue Manager Group, led by Melanie Landsiedel, business development specialist from Chevron.
“As a rising tide lifts all boats, anchors stabilize those boats. Likewise, ANCHOR Award nominees steady our community’s commerce sector. The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce is honored to recognize and support these exceptional small businesses and nonprofit organizations,” says Paige Roberts, president and CEO of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.
All nominee applications have been submitted for this year’s ANCHOR Awards. Nominees will soon be announced for the four categories: Rookie Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year Category 1, Small Business of the Year Award Category 2, and Nonprofit Organization of the Year.
The Chamber is here to support community and business development within Jackson County. Opportunities such as this are available exclusively to members of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. Small businesses make up nearly 85 percent of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce membership. The Chamber is here to support community and small business development within Jackson County. All businesses, organizations and individuals are invited to be a part of the Chamber membership.
Anyone interested in learning more about the ANCHOR Awards or joining the Chamber should contact the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce at 228-762-3391 or newsletter@jcchamber.com. More information is available on www.jcchamber.com and the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce business page on Facebook.
