Nominees fulfilled the Chamber's mission to promote economic growth, employment opportunities, government and excellence in 2013.

Amelia Island, FL – Nineteen businesses and nonprofits and 21 individuals have been nominated for Amelia Island-Fernandina Beach-Yulee Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards saluting achievement by the local business community in 2013.

Award recipients will be announced at the Chamber’s Annual Awards Dinner on Friday, January 10, at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation. The event is sponsored by The Brumos Companies, CBC National Bank, Residence Inn Amelia Island and VyStar Credit Union with additional support from JetBlue, Krystal Klean and the Omni Amelia Island Plantation.

“This is the Chamber’s biggest event every year,” said AIFBY Chamber President Regina Duncan. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the local business community to gather and celebrate its accomplishments in 2013 and look forward to a prosperous new year.”

Nominations were sought from the public in seven categories. Qualified nominees must be members of the AIFBY Chamber of Commerce.

The 2013 AIFBY Award nominees are:

Large Business of the Year (25 employees or more)
-First Federal Bank of Florida
-Lowe’s of Fernandina Beach
-Omni Amelia Island Plantation
-Residence Inn Amelia Island

Medium Business of the Year (11-24 employees)
-Advance Rehabilitation
-Hot Paws Pet Grooming, Hotel & Spa
-Palm III Realty Inc.
-The Salty Pelican Bar & Grill

Small Business of the Year (10 employees or fewer)
-Advanced Muscle Therapy & Fitness
-The ConneXion Specialist
-Hola! Cuban Café
-Miranda Architects
-Missy’s Kitchen
-P5 Productions

Green Business of the Year
-A1A Solar Contracting
-Building It Green
-The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary
-Jacobs Scholz & Associates
-Nassau Health Foods

Customer Service Employee of the Year
-Arva Butler, Staples
-Donna Chandler, Nassau County Property Appraiser’s Office
-Manida (Nida) Ganung, The Crap Trap
-Emily Hope, Amelia Island Graphics
-Shannon Kelly, Nassau Health Foods
-Johnny Miller, The Palace Saloon
-Staff, 24 Hour Laundry Zone

Young Business Leader of the Year
-Julie Barcus, Community First Credit Union
-Brandy Carvalho, Nassau Humane Society
-Jason Hambrecht, Construction Solutions, Inc.
-Octavio Martinez, Hot Paws Pet Grooming, Hotel & Spa
-Ashley Phinazee, Colie’s

Business Leader of the Year
-Janice Ancrum, Council on Aging of Nassau County
-Shannon Brown, VyStar Credit Union
-Lamar Bryant, Lowe’s of Fernandina Beach
-Mark Dennis, A1A Wealth Management
-Bob Hartman, Residence Inn Amelia Island
-Rita Jackson, Old Towne Carriage Co.
-Dana McCoy, RN, Angel Watch Home Care
-Larry Ogilvie, Advanced Muscle Therapy & Fitness
-Mike Sharpe, Sun Gallery Vision Center & Sunglasses

Recipients will be chosen from among these nominees by the Chamber’s Board of Directors. Nominees will be evaluated on how they fulfilled the Chamber’s mission to promote responsible economic growth, employment opportunities, government and excellence in education and quality of life in 2013.

Several other 2013 awards also will be presented January 10:
-the Ambassador of the Year Award, honoring a member of the Chamber’s corps of volunteer Ambassadors
-the Chairman’s Award, given by the outgoing Chairman of the Board of Directors to a Director for outstanding service on behalf of the Chamber
-and the Dr. Harry Halley Bowtie Award, bestowed annually by the Board of Directors on a longtime Chamber supporter.

The Annual Awards Dinner will include a drawing for round-trip tickets for two on JetBlue. Drawing tickets are $5 each or $20 for five. Interactive event photography will be by Clik Simple.

Proceeds will be used to fund Chamber programs to assist local businesses.

Admission to the Annual Awards Dinner is $55 per person for Chamber members through Friday, January 3; $75 afterwards. Admission for non-members is $100 per person. Cash bar.

Individual reservations may be made and securely paid online in the Annual Awards Dinner event listing at www.islandchamber.com/events.aspx.

Corporate tables of 8 are available by contacting the Chamber at (904) 261-3248. Tables of 8 are $440 through Friday, January 3; $600 afterwards.

All registration will close at 12 p.m. Thursday, January 9. All payments must be received in full by the close of registration. No payment or walk-ins will be accepted at the door. Cancellations must be received by 12 p.m. Thursday, January 9, or all charges will apply.

For more information, contact the AIFBY Chamber at (904) 261-3248 or info@aifby.com <mailto:info@aifby.com . Mission Statement
The Amelia Island-Fernandina Beach-Yulee Chamber of Commerce is a membership-based association of Nassau County businesses, professional leaders and individuals working together to provide leadership which will aggressively promote and defend responsible economic growth, employment opportunities, government and excellence in education and quality of life.