CANTON, GA (January 27, 2026) – The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce reflected on 2025 while announcing 2026 primary goals during the organization’s 55th Annual Meeting held Friday, January 23. Sponsored by Northside Hospital Cherokee, the event featured the Commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia, Greg Dozier, as the keynote speaker. In the changing of the guard, Outgoing Board Chair, Neil Blackman, Principal, Corblu Ecology Group, LLC, passed the gavel to 2026 Chair Debra Williams, Retail Market Leader/Senior Vice President, Synovus.

In sharing 2025 successes, outgoing Chair Blackman remarked, “Providing an opportunity for our members to connect with community leaders while remaining in the know regarding community initiatives is an ongoing success story. This past year Regional Issues programming focused on water, the newly created Cherokee County Land Bank, attainable housing, and updates from our state legislative delegation along with our partners at Cherokee County and our cities. The inaugural Cherokee Mid-Year Check-In included an overview by Cherokee County Senior Services, Cherokee County’s Community Development Agency, Cherokee County E-9-1-1, and Georgia Chamber President & CEO Chris Clark.  Attendance at the 86 Chamber events such as these, up from 84 in 2024, grew by almost 800 attendees with a final count of 5,594.  The Chamber’s successful leadership initiatives included an emphasis on Leadership Cherokee Alumni with over 750 graduates over the past 37 years. Efforts to keep alumni involvement alive was part of the organization’s 2025 business plan with additional opportunities to connect coming in 2026. From an economic impact standpoint, Destination Cherokee GA was able to expand its tourism efforts this past year due to an increase in hotel/motel tax funding from Cherokee County.  The Chamber hosted two additional new events, the National Civics Bee and On-Target Sporting Clays Tournament.  Following the addition of 237 new members, year-end membership was 1,085 resulting in a 82% retention rate.”

Incoming Board Chair Williams shared that in 2026, the Chamber Board of Directors and Staff will focus their efforts based on a strategic plan, named Accelerate 2028, which will serve as the Chamber’s roadmap over the next three years. The Chamber’s vision and mission were also updated through this process. The updated vision is to foster a thriving community through trusted resources and strong connections, and the updated mission is to support and connect businesses to create economic success. “We are continuing to combine our education and workforce efforts, which resulted in accelerated success in both areas during 2025 through the work of our E3 Committee, which blends the initiatives and missions of the previous Education Committee and Workforce Development Council. We will continue our work readiness efforts across multiple areas of need and expand our Destination Cherokee GA tourism efforts that will create enhanced visibility for Cherokee County and a boost in economic vitality just as our ‘whatever you do’ Keep It Local campaign fosters,” announced Chair Williams.

Those volunteers recognized for completing their service on the Chamber Board included Kendall Jones; Vic Knight, Waste Management; Sherry Lowe-Cooke, COACHNWORK, LLC; Eric Rein, Pinnacle Financial Partners; Debbie Underkoffler, North GA Staffing and Stephanie Villasenor, Cherokee Family Violence Center.

The following volunteers are beginning a three-year term on the Chamber Board of Directors: Katie Bowling, Coosa Valley Credit Union; Chicka Elloy, Canton City Lifestyle; Dwayne Fowler, Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority; Karen Lance, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers; Janet Ponichtera, Nelson Elder Care Law, LLC; Amanda Rostin, Lead Edge Design Group, Inc. and Brian Stevens, FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers. “These new Board members bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. I look forward to serving alongside these volunteers along with those who will continue to serve on the Chamber Board as we work collaboratively to meet the Chamber’s mission,” shared Board Chair Williams.

Among the awards presented was the Annual First Citizen of Cherokee County recognition that was bestowed upon Cherokee County resident G. Cecil Pruett. “The Cherokee County Chamber is honored to name G. Cecil Pruett as the 51st recipient of the prestigious First Citizen of Cherokee County Award. The judges did an outstanding job in selecting him,” remarked Mrs. Williams.

Additional accolades went to Lead Edge Design Group, Inc., the 2026 Excellence in Customer Service Award winner; Providence Insurance – Josh Bagby Agency, the 2026 Small Business of the Year; Hand, Hoof, and Heart, the 2026 Non-Profit of the Year; Southeast Restoration Group, the 2026 Family-Owned Business of the Year; and Golf2Grow Indoor Golf Experience Towne Lake, was named the 2026 Veteran-Owned Business of the Year. All award recipients were chosen by out-of-town judges just as the First Citizen is selected. The 2025 Chairman’s Council “Joan McFather Volunteer of the Year Award” was presented to Bruce Tainowitz with Sull Graphics, Inc., as he best-exemplified on-going dedication throughout the past year as a Chamber Ambassador while contributing dozens of volunteer hours on the Chairman’s Council. This award, bearing the name of longtime Chamber volunteer Joan McFather, has been given in her name since her untimely passing in 2019.

The mission of the Cherokee County Chamber, a Georgia Certified Chamber, is to support and connect businesses to create economic success. To learn more about the Chamber, visit CherokeeChamber.com.

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Photo ID’s

  • Passing of the Gavel: Neil Blackman (l), 2025 Chamber Chair, Principal, Corblu Ecology Group, LLC passes the gavel to 2026 Chair Debra Williams (r), Retail Market Leader/Senior Vice President, Synovus.
  • Chairman’s Council Volunteer of the Year: Neil Blackman (r), 2025 Chamber Chair, Principal, Corblu Ecology Group, LLC, presented Bruce Tainowitz (l), Sull Graphics, Inc., the 2025 Chairman’s Council Joan McFather Volunteer of the Year Award.
  • Award Winners (l to r): Family-Owned Business of the Year: Holden Looper and Ben Looper, Southeast Restoration Group; Veteran-Owned Business of the Year: MacKenzie Thomas, Golf2Grow Indoor Golf Experience Towne Lake; Excellence in Customer Service: Amanda Rostin, Lead Edge Design Group; Small Business of the Year: Josh Bagby, Providence Insurance – Josh Bagby Agency. Not Pictured: Non-Profit of the Year: Hand, Hoof, and Heart.