The Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce made its annual business and community award presentations Monday night at the Rock Eagle Conference Center, north of Eatonton.
The awards recognized outstanding entrepreneurship, innovation, and community service, celebrating individuals and organizations that have shaped the region’s economic vitality and quality of life.
“I’m very happy with the event. The turnout was bigger than expected, and I thought the venue was perfect for the attendees,” E-PCOC President Robbie King said as the night wound down. “My staff did all the décor themselves, and I think they did a great job, just amazing, and it was all hand-made. They pretty much built everything you saw on every table. Simple, but classy. I’m really proud of them.”
The evening featured seven major awards, each sponsored by prominent local businesses or financial institutions that have demonstrated their own commitments to regional development. From emerging entrepreneurs to established business leaders to government representatives, the honorees represented a cross-section of the community’s most impactful contributors.
The Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Award, sponsored by Shafer Partners, recognized vision and risk-taking in building profitable businesses with positive community impact.
Nominees included Lisa Tubbs, who expanded from IV Wellness Solutions to launch Compassion Café; Sean and Sara Tintle, who grew Red Bird Georgia Property Management into a multi-venture operation including Set The Stage and Square Cow Movers; and Matthew Cantero, founder of Elite Personal Protection. Katie Strickland of Shafer Partners joined King in presenting the award to the Tintles.
“This was just shocking,” Sean Tintle said. “I mean, we were just taking on these new ventures because we saw the market needed one of them, and then we needed the other business to support the first business. But we’re excited. This is great.”
The Business Innovation Award of the Year was sponsored by Tri-Co Go, the fiber-optic internet provider launched in partnership with Tri-County EMC. King announced that this recognition is intended for businesses that challenge traditional approaches through new services and enhanced customer experiences.
The five nominees in this category included: The Well, which introduced cold plunge therapy and hot yoga to the local wellness landscape; Millwood Plumbing Services; Three Rays Boutique & Tanning; Larson Chiropractic; and Kina’s Krazy Kreations, an Eatonton restaurant that reimagined itself and now provides a community and cultural connection.
King presented the award to Kina’s, saying the downtown eatery has entrenched itself in the community while providing an important gathering place as well as consistently serving good food to patrons.
BankSouth sponsored the Community Organization of the Year Award, honoring nonprofits creating lasting positive impact. King named four worthy nominees: Neighbors Helping Neighbors, which supports families in crisis by providing free beds to children, free car repairs, and meeting basic household needs; Habitat for Humanity of Putnam County, which addresses critical housing needs by “providing a hand up, not a handout;” The Veterans Thrift Store in Eatonton, serving veterans through reinvestment and partnerships; and Circle of Love Center, which provides emergency shelter to domestic violence victims and their children.
Veterans Thrift Store Manager Nikki Barker accepted the Community Organization Award from Sarah Peacock of BankSouth.
The Heart of Hospitality Award, sponsored by Tri-County EMC, recognized individuals who create memorable visitor experiences and foster community pride. Two finalists emerged: Karen Garrett of the historic Dot 2 Dot Inn near downtown Eatonton, delivering gourmet dining amid personalized hospitality, and Lisa Tubbs of Compassion Café, for creating a welcoming gathering place on the east side of the county for locals and visitors alike.
King again presented this award, pointing out that over a short period of time, Compassion Café has supported local artisans, hosted community events, and strengthened Eatonton-Putnam County’s hospitality culture.
The Farmers & Merchants Bank sponsored the Breakout Business of the Year Award, honoring businesses established within the last three years that have demonstrated remarkable momentum and future potential.
Nominees included Compassion Café, which opened in August last year; Kina’s Krazy Kreations, growing from modest beginnings in a trailer/ kitchen to a thriving downtown storefront presence; Millwood Plumbing, building a strong reputation since its 2023 founding; and SIPS 31024, after transforming a historic building into a popular dining destination.
Amy McElhenney of downtown Eatonton’s Farmers & Merchants Bank branch made the award presentation to Millwood Plumbing.
Visit Eatonton sponsored the Tourism Pioneer Award, recognizing innovation in promoting Eatonton as a travel destination. The two finalists in this category included the Georgia Writers Museum, which is currently bringing to Eatonton in April the debut of a unique Smithsonian exhibition on democracy in Georgia; and Karl and Myrna Taylor, whose historic building restorations have helped revitalize downtown Eatonton and increase its overall visitor appeal.
E-PCOC’s Hannah Tyson presented the award to Chip Bell and Melissa Swindell of the Georgia Writers Museum.
“I think it shows that we have a good community here and a good culture when we’re excited for each other, and we’re disappointed that we can’t both have it,” Swindell said.
The Business of the Year Award, sponsored by The People’s Bank, recognized sustained excellence, leadership, and long-term community commitment. Chuck Haley presented the award to Keith Fitzgerald, founder and owner of ProSouth Services Electrical-Heating and Air, a company known for reliability, precision, and investment in workforce development.
“One thing I want to do is to thank God, and I want to thank my family for putting up with all the hard work that we have to do,” Fitzgerald said, clearly surprised by the recognition. “But second of all, we started out two-and-a-half years ago with one van and one guy, and now we stand here today, and we’re 30 people, and we have 16 vans on the road now … and it’s all because of hard work and dedication from our employees, and wonderful customers.
And look, just do the right thing. Answer your phone, do what you say you’re going to do, and you’ll do fine.”
The evening concluded with the prestigious Roddie Anne Blackwell Service and Leadership Award, honoring an individual whose leadership has made a lasting difference through integrity, compassion, and service above self.
In announcing the recognition, King said that Putnam County Manager Paul Van Haute received it for empowering others, investing in people, and strengthening the community through principled leadership.
“I’m just very humbled by this and very honored by it,” Van Haute said. “And to share this award with a previous recipient, [former County Chairman] Bob Landau, who was a dear friend and worked just as hard, it’s a great gift.”