Outgoing Board Chair Gary Gardner with First Bank & Trust East Texas - Splendora passed the gavel on to incoming Board Chair Angela Allen of Allied Power Mart & Allied Storage. Chair-Elect Scott Brady with Joiner Partnership stood in for Angela who was unable to attend that evening.
Chamber member Mike Harris with Long Term Care Partners was awarded the Ambassador of the Year Award at the Chamber Banquet January 14th. There probably hasn't been but one or two ribbon cuttings in the last three or four years that Mike hasn't attended. He is the first to arrive and the last to leave. Mike is always at everything we do. His commitment to the Chamber is truly outstanding.
Our Small Business of the Year honoree is Judy Hayes with RE/MAX Rewards. Even though our honored business is a relatively new business, just slightly over two years old, the founder and subsequent personnel have certainly made a difference in our community.In a down economic market, but in an area that is fairing better than most, our honoree has quickly expanded and taken on several additional agents to put them where they are today. Judy continues to strive to make a difference here in East Montgomery County. She and her team have become active participants in the Chamber and throughout the community.
Our honored Large Business of the Year was founded the same year as the Chamber, 1990 and has continued to grow significantly over the last twenty-one years. When you are in the service business you have to make a quality impression each and every time you do work for a customer.Whether it is handling service at large or small businesses, residential customer or participating and supporting community events Mark Humphrey with Raymark Air Conditioning & Heating is always ready to go the extra mile. As a long time supporter of the Chamber and various organizations in our area Mark and his team are very deserving of this honor.
The Chamber is pleased to honor two individuals with the Hometown Hero Award who are deeply grounded in East Montgomery County and who have made EMC a much better place to live and work.
Our first honoree is an individual who comes by his commitment to family, business, and community honestly. His election as Justice of the Peace Pct. 4 was a turning point in his career and in the lives of countless thousands that he has touched since first elected. Judge James Oren Metts quickly assembled a strong team to surround him and he went to work. His commitment to the citizens of Pct. 4 is without question, especially his strong stance on attendance in school for our young citizens. We are honored to name Judge Metts as a Hometown Hero.
Our second honoree for the Hometown Hero Award is Leon Cubillas. He has served SISD as Teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal, Associate Superintendent, and Superintendent over a 29 year span. During this span he was named Region VI Superintendent of the Year twice, in 1997 and 2000, led in the passage of two bond referendums and held numerous leadership positions in educational organizations across the state. He too chose to expand his service to the community and ran for and was elected to the Board of Directors of the East Montgomery County Improvement District where he currently serves as EMCID's Chairman. Leon Cubillas is a giant among men, giving and never asking anything in return.
