The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce named Amanda Clements Drake the 2019 Business Woman of the Year at its June 5 Executive Luncheon, presented by Augusta University. Awarded for the ninth time, the Business Woman of the Year award is given annually to recognize a woman in the workplace for her hard work, dedication, and passion both professionally and personally. Each year nominations are opened to the membership, the nominators fill out a profile sheet and then those profiles are presented to the Columbia County Chamber Board of Directors and they select a winner. The award was sponsored by Hardwood Floors and More.
 
Amanda Clements Drake opened C & C Automotive West in 2011 with her father and managed staff of ten people for eight years. She opened C & C Automotive in Martinez, Georgia in 2018, and currently manages both locations. Amanda now serves as Vice President on the Automotive Service Association Georgia Board for over five years. She also serves as Secretary/Treasurer of Augusta Elite Power Networkers BNI chapter for three years.
 
Drake continues to strive for excellence in her company by receiving an accredited Automotive Manager certification from the Automotive Management Institute and an Automotive Service Consultant Certification from the Automotive Service Excellence National Institute.
 
Along with professional accomplishments and civic involvement, Drake has volunteered in various capacities with the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce’s Ambassador Committee and  Events Advisory Committee, her company holds blood drives and toy drives on an annual basis and volunteers on the Augusta Technical Institute Automotive Repair Advisory Board. Also, Drake ran for Woman of the Year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society campaign five years ago and raised over $10,000 for the cause.