The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce hosted its 21^st Annual Banquet, presented by SouthState Bank, on Thursday, February 12^th at the Columbia County Exhibition Center. More than 500 Chamber members, local leaders, community officials, and state representatives were in attendance. The Chamber honored outstanding individuals and businesses during its annual awards ceremony, celebrating their achievements and contributions to Columbia County and the Greater Augusta Region.

Tiffany Heitzman, Executive Officer at Home Builders Association Greater Augusta-Aiken Region, received the Leadership Columbia County Alumni Award. The Ambassador of the Year Award was presented to Janet Mueller, Realtor & Associate Broker at Heartland Real Estate, and Jamie Wier, Director of Marketing at Blanchard & Calhoun, was honored with the Volunteer of the Year Award, sponsored by First Community Bank.

The Chamber also recognized local businesses. The Non-Profit Member of the Year Award, sponsored by ADP, was awarded to Home Builders Association of the Greater Augusta-Aiken Region. Veterans Pressure Washing was named Small Business of the Year while SouthState Bank took home the title of Large Business of the Year.

One of the most prestigious honors presented by the Columbia County Chamber is the Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Southeast Restoration, which was awarded to Tammy Gibbs Shepherd. Shepherd is the current President of SOAR Nonprofit Solutions, LLC and the Retired President & CEO of the Columbia County Chamber. She has been a driving force behind Columbia County’s growth, leading initiatives that strengthened local businesses, expanded workforce programs, and brought transformative opportunities like U.S. Army Cyber Command to the region.

The event also featured Columbia County Chamber President & CEO Heath Taylor’s first address to the membership since taking his role on February 2^nd. Outgoing Chair of the Chamber’s 2025 Board of Directors, Neil Gwynne (Poolwerx), also formally welcomed incoming Chair of the Board for 2026, Helen Caldwell (Pinnacle Bank), with the ceremonial passing of the gavel.

The 21^st Annual Banquet Celebration was made possible through the support of various sponsors. SouthState Bank served as the Presenting Sponsor, while Georgia Power, Savannah Nuclear Solutions, and Security Federal Bank were the Premier Sponsors. Executive Sponsors included Allegra Print & Marketing, DIYscapes, and Southern Oral Surgery & Implant Specialists. Additional sponsors included Augusta Technical College, C&C Automotive, Jordan Trotter Commercial Real Estate, Lamar Advertising, Beachview Events, F&M Bank, and Ballooneers. To learn more about the Columbia County Chamber, visit ColumbiaCountyChamber.com.