And the winners are…
The Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce held its much-anticipated annual awards ceremony on Friday, Jan. 24, at the Cleveland Civic Center. The event is also when the Chamber board leadership officially changes.
Victoria Good is this year’s chairman, replacing outgoing chairman Charlie Rice. At the banquet, Good presented Rice with a plaque commemorating his year of service as chairman and Kari Duggar with a Chairman’s Choice award, recognizing Duggar’s service and commitment to the Chamber.
MTC Cleveland (formerly known as Cleveland Correctional Center) was named the Business of the Year.
John Hart, owner of Hart’s RV and Boat Storage, was picked as the recipient of the Alfred G. Anderson Citizen of the Year.
The winner of the Jean Noble McAdams Volunteer of the Year Award is realtor Regina Vollmer. Raylene Atkinson, who works for Texas Emergency Hospital, was picked as the Ambassador of the Year.
The award for Non-Profit of the Year is Covenant With Christ, which operates a thrift shop and food bank in Cleveland.
Victoria Good, who is starting her first term as chairman for the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, presented outgoing chairman Charlie Rice with a plaque commemorating his service to the Chamber. 
Kari Duggar (right) received the Chairman’s Choice Award from Chairman Victoria Good at the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce’s annual membership gala on Friday, Jan. 24. 
John Hart (center) is the recipient of the Alfred G. Anderson Citizen of the Year for the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce. Pictured with him are Jim Carson, chief operating officer for the Greater Cleveland of Commerce, and Will Carter with U.S. Rep. Brian Babin’s office. 
Raylene Atkinson is the Ambassador of the Year for the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce. Pictured with her are Jim Carson, chief operating officer for the Greater Cleveland of Commerce, and Will Carter with U.S. Rep. Brian Babin’s office. 
Regina Vollmer is the recipient of the Jean Noble McAdams Volunteer of the Year for the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce. Pictured with her are Jim Carson, chief operating officer for the Greater Cleveland of Commerce, and Will Carter with U.S. Rep. Brian Babin’s office. 
Covenant With Christ was named the Non-Profit of the Year for the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce. Representing the organization is Christine Shippey, director. The organization received the highest number of votes to earn the acclaim. Pictured with her are Jim Carson, chief operating officer for the Greater Cleveland of Commerce, and Will Carter with U.S. Rep. Brian Babin’s office. 
Donna and Blake Kelso (right) won the top prize during the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce’s annual membership gala on Jan. 25. Blake was the final winner in a “heads or tails” contest. Pictured with them is Jim Carson, chief operating officer for the chamber. 
Jean Noble McAdams, for whom an award is named with the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, is pictured with Bruce Martin of DeMontrond Ford of Cleveland at the Chamber’s annual membership gala on Friday, Jan. 24. 
Will Cox Roofing table 
Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce table 
Austin Bank 
Lone Star College System-Kingwood 
DeMontrond Ford’s table 
Jean Noble McAdams table 
Cordelia Kirkham and daughter, Kem Kirkham Arnold, enjoyed a visit during the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce’s annual membership gala on Friday, Jan. 24, at the Cleveland Civic Center. 
Public Management Inc.’s table 
Health Center of Southeast Texas table 
MTC Cleveland (formerly Cleveland Correctional Center) 
Zack Zbranek, a candidate for Liberty County Court at Law 2, attended the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce’s annual membership gala on Friday, Jan. 24. 
Cleveland ISD was represented at the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce’s annual membership gala by Susan Ard and husband, James Ard, and Superintendent Chris Trotter and wife, Rachel Trotter. 
Cleveland City Councilwoman Jennifer Bergman Harkness and City Secretary Angela Smith dance during the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce’s annual membership gala on Friday, Jan. 24, at the Cleveland Civic Center. 
Pace-Stancil Funeral Home representatives (pictured with Will Carter with U.S. Rep. Brian Babin’s office and Cordelia Kirkham) 
Veritex Bank 
Buster Brown Propane 
HCA Houston Healthcare (visiting with Kem Arnold with Texas Elite Hospice) 
Southside Bank 
City of Cleveland 
The Hot Steppers perform at the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce’s annual gala on Friday, Jan. 24, at the Cleveland Civic Center. 
Entergy Texas 
Texas Emergency Hospital Systems
Would be nice to see the chamber getting involved in stopping these third world style developments that resemble ghetto subdivisions in the area.
These slum developers should be shut down. It’s driving down property values and reeking havoc on our school system.
Not to mention the negative effect this has on legitimate new businesses or nice home builders wanting to move into the area.