BY MELISSA PYLE
Telegraph Staff Writer
The North Florida Regional Chamber of Commerce held its annual banquet and meeting on Saturday evening at the Charley E. Johns Conference Center in Starke. The theme this year was Medieval Times, and Chamber President Pam Whittle and her team brought the banquet to life.
Each guest was welcomed into a whimsical world decorated with suits of armor, dragons, a throne backdrop, and a feast with a roasted pig as the main dish. The feast was catered by The Downtown Grill, one of many local and regional businesses that sponsored the event.
The banquet began with Whittle welcoming and thanking all community leaders, business owners and elected officials for their faithful support. The evening spotlighted the Chamber Board of Governors, including outgoing Chairman Dale Woodruff and new Chairman Brad Bishop. Departing board members Helen Hersey and Doug Reddish were presented with a commemorative clock. Whittle smiled and said they were given clocks in exchange for the time given to the chamber.
The biggest highlight of the evening was the presentation of awards. First, the Judy Becker Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Joey Evans. Evans was unable to attend, but Whittle said although Evans was not able to receive his award in person, she wanted to read what she wrote about him because he was very deserving of the praise. Whittle said Evans is “always ready to roll up his sleeves whenever anyone needs help. He’s given monetary donations, (most of the time anonymously and without fanfare) and given even more valuable sweat equity.” Whittle said many people don’t realize how Evans is not only at events to help his wife, Patricia, but many times he initiated the volunteer effort.
Whittle also recognized how the couple is always looking for ways to “build a sense of community in our small rural neighborhood.” Whittle said Joey is “the salt to Patricia’s pepper.”
The second award of the evening was the J.E. Tomlinson Businessperson of the Year presentation. Whittle asked former board member, and daughter of this year’s award recipient, Amber Crawford to introduce her father, Avery Roberts. Crawford spoke highly of her dad and his lifelong commitment to the community. Crawford said, “Roberts is a sixth generation Floridian … has always had a passion for the agricultural industry.” Roberts is a family man, married to his high school sweetheart, Twyla, for 39 years. Roberts serves not only as CEO of Roberts Companies, but operates multifunctional ranches, is an active member of various local chambers of commerce and serves on multiple boards. These include the Foundation for Florida Gateway College Executive Board, the Suwannee Valley Community Foundation Board and the Esther King Memorial Scholarship Board, among others. He is also the current president elect of the Florida Forestry Association.
Roberts has established multiple scholarship funds including the Union County Scholarship fund. Robert’s daughter summed up his service best when she said, “I personally know how much he loves this community and its people, and it’s been my privilege my entire life to witness him very generously giving of his time to better our region.”
The final award of the night, the Business of the Year Award, was presented to Williams Jewelry. Williams Jewelry has been in Starke for over 70 years. Whittle recognized that over the years Williams Jewelry has moved around Starke into various locations, most recently into a beautiful new building on Call Street. Even with all the moves, one thing has stayed the same, they have always served their customers with “quality customer service and merchandise.”
Whittle went on to describe the nostalgic impact Williams has had on many in Bradford County. “There was a time in Starke when if you were getting your ears pierced, you were going to Williams Jewelry. Or better yet, if you were completing your junior year of high school, you were headed to Williams Jewelry to get that class ring Now in this generation, they are ‘TikToking’ at Williams Jewelry, selling jewelry in California!”
She said Mr. and Mrs. Williams could never have imagined such a thing for their local family business. Whittle thanked Vicki Forsyth for her continued commitment to the community while also honoring the legacy of her family. Forsyth was joined by her Williams Jewelry staff to receive the award.
The evening was also a fundraising event for the Bradford County Education Foundation. There was a silent auction and raffle for items, including a television as well as an ATV donated by the sheriff’s office and a Dodge Charger donated by the Starke Police Department. Sheriff Gordon Smith and School Superintendent Will Hartley were the comic relief of the event when they went up for auction as personal car washers. They were sold to the highest bidders for a St. Patrick’s Day carwash where each promised to dress as a leprechaun to wash the vehicles.
The banquet was a successful celebration due in part to several local businesses. Whittle gave special thanks to the evening’s sponsors: VyStar Credit Union, Community State Bank, and special thanks to the businesses who supplied many of the medieval decorations that made the evening a magical experience. Leisa Sims of It’s Your Day, Riches Place, and Underhill’s Forge loaned many costumes and props to make the atmosphere authentic.
Before the evening closed with dancing, there was a recognition of the NFRCC Board of Governors: Chairman Brad Bishop, Treasurer Chris Page, Rhonda Hamilton, James Eison, Steve Futch, Jeff Oody, Lindsey Reddish, Brad Smith, Justis Smith and Denny Thompson.
