A change of leadership took place during Wednesday’s Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce luncheon, while awards were also handed out during the membership meeting at the Vicksburg Convention Center.

During the event, outgoing 2017 Board President Mark Buys passed the gavel to Nick Jones. In his remarks, Buys expressed what a year of change 2017 was for the chamber and the community, pointing out the tremendous addition of Pablo Diaz as the county’s new economic director and combining the Port Commission, Economic Development Foundation and the Chamber of Commerce into “The Partnership” to direct economic development.

“More than 90 applicants from around the country applied for the job and we are blessed to find the nation’s best economic developer right in our own backyard,” Buys said of Diaz, who left Grenada to take the reins in Vicksburg.

Buys also said the “growing and expanding” chamber added 68 new members and had 25 ribbon cuttings for new businesses in 2017.

In speaking after the event, Buys pointed out the Mississippi Hardware initiative downtown “continues to be our number one project.

“A lot of people are involved in this and it will be ever changing for Vicksburg,” Buys said.

He also pointed out the annual job fair was a big success in 2017 with 52 booths and added “1,600 people came through looking for jobs.”

He said the chamber-sponsored Leadership Vicksburg had 18 graduates in the most recent class.

He pointed out that the chamber continues to support education in the community with the Leader in Me program in the Vicksburg Warren School District, which is the only school district in the state that has implemented the program in every elementary school, junior high and high school. Buys said the chamber has raised more than $855,000 to support Leader in Me since its inception.

In his remarks as the new chamber chairman, Jones — who moved to Vicksburg with his wife and children in 2013 — said the members shouldn’t expect to see the foot come off the pedal as economic development continues to grow in the community.

“If anything, we’ll be shifting gears,” Jones said.

A major in the National Guard, Jones is the owner-operator of the local Chick-fil-a restaurant. He told the members Vicksburg is “at a decision point.”

“Our challenge to members, the community, city, county and state is to join us and build with us, in an effort that leads to long-term growth,” Jones said.

The chamber also handed out their annual awards during the event.

The law firm Ellis, Dees & Sadler was chosen the Small Business of the Year, while Golding Barge Line was selected Large Business of the Year.

Maggie Dimmette, who works at St. Joseph Hospice, was named Ambassador of the Year for her volunteer work with the chamber.