Dozens of businesses and community leaders flocked to the Vicksburg Convention Center Wednesday as the Chamber of Commerce turned a new leaf while handing out its annual awards during the organization’s monthly luncheon. 

As distinguished guests dined with friends and business partners, Chamber of Commerce executive director Jane Lauderdale Flowers kick-started the event by highlighting a few of the numerous accomplishments of Warren County’s citizens in 2014.

Flowers announced Vicksburg has retained its official retirement community status while congratulating the Vicksburg Warren School District for receiving the Governor’s Award of Distinction last year. She also told the packed room that Warren County is going to be featured in the March edition of Southern Living with its own multi-page spread in the magazine.

“It’s exciting. I love this, getting people together,” Flowers said. “The whole idea was to get as many people as we can out in this community and to know what the Chamber (of Commerce) is, and to recognize who is running things.”

Flowers then announced the winners of the organization’s 2014 awards, which are given to businesses and individuals the Chamber of Commerce believes have positively impacted the area.

State Farm’s Robyn Lee took home Ambassador of the Year honors for her work in the community, while Chick-fil-A was awarded Small Business of the Year for its WinShape camps — a set of overnight and day camps designed to give children a safe, adventurous summer camp experience.

Large Business of the Year went to Ameristar Casino for the company’s generous donations to Warren County’s local schools.

“It’s a humbling experience, especially to be recognized for what we strive to do in the community, but also humbling to be put up against the companies we were ranked against,” Ameristar vice president and assistant general manager Annie Jenkins said. “It’s something that we strive to do to make sure that we are an impact in every market that we’re in, and to be recognized to have done just that is a very humbling and rewarding experience”

At the conclusion of the awards, outgoing Chamber of Commerce president Don Brown officially passed the torch to his successor, Trustmark Bank president Tom Kendall.

“It’s both scary and exciting,” Kendall said of his new position. “I’m really looking forward to working with the staff and the board in 2015. We’re all interested in making Vicksburg the best place it can be.”

Kendall praised the awards luncheon, which was moved from an evening banquet, while highlighting some of the goals he and the Chamber of Commerce hope to attain in the coming year.

“I think the most important thing is to get more people involved, and also to increase membership. Those are probably two of the biggest things we’re going to work on, having more volunteers, being more active and also try to grow membership,” Kendall said.

“This event is actually a reward for those who have participated to recognize those that have done good this year, and kick-start us into 2015.”