ALEXANDRIA, Louisiana. November 16, 2020 (TheTownTalk.com) — Winners of the 2020 Bizzy Awards were revealed at the 8th Annual Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Gala held at the Community Center on England Airpark. Six special categories of Bizzy Awards were selected by the sponsors of each award: the Red River Bank Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Cleco Innovation Award, CLEDA’s “We Make Good Stuff Award”, Rapides Regional Medical Center’s Community Benefit Award, the Chamber’s Emerging Leader Award and the new P&G Diversity and Inclusion Award.
“The Chamber Board and I are grateful to Taylan Uras, plant manager and the Procter & Gamble team for establishing the P&G Diversity and Inclusion Award,” said Deborah Randolph, president of the Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce (cenlachamber.org). “It is timely and meaningful to add this category of recognition as part of the Bizzy Awards and Cleco was a great choice to be the first recipient.”
“At Cleco, we believe a diverse workforce is key to our success in becoming the leading energy company in Louisiana,” said Bill Fontenot, CEO and president. “We further believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce will lead our company to more discoveries, more creativity and solutions that better benefit everyone.” Red River Bank received the Rapides Regional Medical Center’s Community Benefit Award.
“It is our sense of community and our sense of engagement that has kept us all going in these very difficult times,” said Blake Chatlain, president and CEO. “And I think that engagement and participation has always been part of our culture at Red River Bank,” he said. “We’ve always asked our employees to find a cause that they are passionate about and get involved with it and try to make a difference in our community.”
Kristen Lemoine, owner of Aspen Bleu, was the recipient of 2020 Chamber’s Emerging Leader Award. “While I stand here alone, this award – I did not get here alone,” said Lemoine. “It’s really less about me and more about my employees who come to work everyday. And you all are always so happy and love the store and our customers as much as I do.”
Winners in 12 categories of the Bizzy Awards were selected among nominees made by the Chamber Board of Directors and Chamber members. Chamber member representatives voted via ballots emailed in an electronic survey. A combination of Chamber votes and those of a panel of judges composed of two Chamber executives and two economic developers from other communities in Louisiana determined the winners.
“This is truly the honor and surprise of my life at this point,” said Jennifer Dykes, assistant to Louisiana College president Rick Brewer. Dykes oversees LC’s social media and Website which received the award for Best Business Website. “It’s truly just an honor to be nominated at all by the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce for the Bizzy Awards. To see my hard work end up here and to see it on the screen – and how far we’ve come – this is the cherry on top,” she said.
The Bizzy Awards was held in accordance with Phase III guidelines as a socially distanced dinner and ceremony but also streamed live for those who preferred to watch from home. Procter & Gamble was the presenting sponsor for the 2020 Bizzy Awards. Sandra McQuain, executive director of the England Economic & Industrial Development District and Steven Maxwell, KALB-TV News Anchor, were the masters of ceremony.
“The Chamber extends congratulations to each of the Bizzy winners,” said Randolph. “These businesses are the economic engines of the region and this event provides an opportunity to pay tribute to their achievements during a challenging year.”
Winners of the 2020 Bizzy Awards
RoyOMartin Best Overall Business Award: Stella Jones
Procter & Gamble Diversity & Inclusion Award: Cleco
Crest Industries Best Large Business: Boise Cascade Red River Bank
Entrepreneur of the Year: Kenny Robison
CLECO Innovation Award: Randy Gilchrist, Gilchrist Construction
Rapides Regional Medical Center Community Benefit Award: Red River Bank
Best Non-Profit Organization: Junior League of Alexandria
CLEDA “We Make Good Stuff” Award: Cindy Cooper Blair
Best New Business: Alexandria Emergency Hospital
Best Broadcast Promotion of a Business: Tie: Crest Industries and Southern Heritage Bank
Emerging Leader Award: Kristen Lemoine, owner of Aspen Blue
Best Marketing Campaign: LSUA
Best Business Website: Louisiana College
Best Interior Design of a Business: Insight Audio & Video
Best Medium Business: Longleaf Hospital
Best Business Logo: Finney Pediatric Dentistry
Best Small Business: 102.3 Jack FM
Best Curb Appeal: CLTCC
