BY DAN HILDEBRAN
The North Florida Regional Chamber of Commerce honored three business and community leaders during its annual banquet at the Gov. Charley E. Johns Conference Center on Saturday, February 8.
Outgoing Chamber Chair Jeff Oody emceed the event, the Bradford County Education Foundation held a silent auction and other fundraisers, and the band Faster than Flash closed out the evening.
Award winners
Oody said the chamber’s business of the year, Lawtey-based Exact Spray Solutions, launched in 2022 with a skeleton crew and one spray system. He added that in two years, the firm has tripled its headcount and doubled the number of systems it uses.
“They have completed over 300 projects in just two years,” Oody said. “Most providers of this service are not certified, which sets them apart from the companies in the area.”
The outgoing chair attested to the company’s sprayed-in-place polyurethane foam by saying the company sprayed his house.
“It works,” he added. “It’s a great product.
Oody said owners Clint and Jill Walding do not cut corners and “support children in Bradford and Union Counties through contributions (and) hard work.”
The J.E. Tomlinson Businessperson of the Year is Lorie Riley of Nicki’s Beauty Bar.
Oody said Riley leads a team of 25 employees, fostering innovation and a culture of empowerment.
“Most recently,” Oody explained, “she expanded her skills as a project manager for a local theatrical production, showcasing her talent for fostering teamwork and creativity. She spends a lot of her time with the Florida Gateway College Cosmetology Board, the Downtown Merchants Association, and the Woman’s Club, where she champions growth and community uplift.”
Oody and Chamber President Pam Whittle awarded the Judy Becker Volunteer of the Year award to Edrick Hamilton of 12G Mentoring.
Oody called Hamilton an educator, volunteer, mentor, and role model.
“He loves young people with diversity from all walks of life,” Oody said, “and he has a motto that background has no bearing. He sees the good in all.”
The chamber chair asserted that
volunteering is not merely a task for the honoree but rather his life.
“From his work with True Vine Ministries to his community involvement, from his summer STEM camp for elementary ages to his pride and joy: 12 Guys in Bow Ties and 12 Girls in Pearls…he’s worked tirelessly to provide mentoring community service opportunities, fundraising opportunities for young people.”
2025 leadership
Oody also recognized outgoing chamber board member Chris Page and introduced incoming Chamber Chair Brad Smith.
Smith told the crowd he was “voluntold” for the Chamber board six years ago by his boss, Sheriff Gordon Smith. The Sheriff’s Office Colonel added that he raised his hand last year for the vice chair position, not realizing the officeholder automatically promoted to chair the following year.
“The Chamber is so important to our community in bringing other businesses here, and I truly feel, and I think most of you guys in this room feel that growth is coming,” Smith told the audience. “We need to have the right type of growth and the right type of businesses coming to our community, and we need to be ready for them.”
Smith then introduced the 2025 chamber’s board of governors, which are Oody of First Federal Bank, Northeast Florida Economic Development Corporation President Amber Shepherd, Bradford County Fair Association Manager Dale Woodruff, Bradford County Clerk of the Court Denny Thompson, new board member Grace Johns, DLP Bank President Harry Gunsallus, Justis Smith of Southland Realty, Rhonda Hamilton of Lake Area Physical Therapy, Bradford County Manager Scott Kornegay, and Steve Futch of Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home.
