The Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce celebrated outstanding local businesses and a historic milestone at its annual gala on Friday, Jan. 31, at the Cleveland Civic Center. Held in honor of the Chamber’s top businesses of the year, the event also marked the 90th anniversary of the founding of the City of Cleveland.
FullScope Pest Control took home the coveted Business of the Year award, with owner Camille Landry also receiving recognition for her contributions as the Chamber’s past board chairman.
Other businesses and individuals were also honored for their achievements and service to the community. The Flower Shop earned double recognition, taking home the award for Best New Business of 2024 as well as Best Storefront. Sinful Southern Belles was recognized for Best Customer Service, while Heartwarming Living Solutions received the award for Best Non-Profit of the Year. The Cleveland Rotary Club was named Volunteer of the Year, and Cynthia Carevic was recognized as Ambassador of the Year.
Outgoing Chamber Board Chairman Kari Duggar selected Zack Harkness, Precinct 6 constable for Liberty County, as the recipient of the Chairman’s Choice Award in recognition of his service to the greater Cleveland community. The selection was announced by the new Board Chairman Brian Garcia.
Duggar was also recognized by the Chamber, receiving a Chairman’s gavel from State Rep. Janis Holt and a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from U.S. Rep. Brian Babin, presented by his senior regional field representative, Lanie Brown.
While the awards were the evening’s main focus, the speakers who shared insights into Cleveland’s rich history may have inadvertently stolen the spotlight.
Before the speakers took the stage, attendees were shown a video produced by the City of Cleveland and the Cleveland Economic Development Corporation to commemorate the city’s 90th anniversary. The video featured a montage of local residents sharing their love for the community and its people, setting a nostalgic tone for the evening.
Cleveland Historical Society also played a major role in the success of the event, setting up a pictorial display along one area of the ballroom. Dozens of carefully curated artifacts and photographs chronicled the city’s rich history, allowing attendees to take a visual journey through Cleveland’s past. The display sparked conversations and memories among longtime residents while offering newcomers a glimpse into the town’s legacy.
Four individuals—Fire Chief Sean Anderson, Police Chief Darrel Broussard, District Attorney Jennifer Bergman, and former Councilwoman Nydia Thomas—were invited to speak, each offering unique perspectives on Cleveland’s past and present.
Fire Chief Anderson recounted the evolution of the Cleveland Fire Department, highlighting the significance of its early stations.
“The first station that we had was the one that was behind where Walgreens is now,” he said, explaining that before community centers were built, the fireman’s hall served as a gathering place for birthday parties and dances. He walked the audience through the progression of the city’s fire stations—from the Boothe Street structure that once housed city hall, the police department, and the fire station all under one roof, to the newest fire station in the Grand Oaks community.
“We’re very proud of it, and you’re welcome to come by and take a look at it at any time,” he said.
Police Chief Darrel Broussard took a personal approach, reflecting on his deep roots in Cleveland.
“This is my hometown, Cleveland,” he said. “My dad was born and raised in Orange, Texas. But I’m glad that he brought us west here to Cleveland.”
Broussard detailed how the town has physically transformed over the years, recalling locations that once stood where newer buildings now stand. He fondly remembered the days when the Cleveland FFA welding shop and animal barn occupied the space where Wells Fargo Bank now sits. He also spoke about the town’s diversity and resilience, encouraging the audience to cherish the bonds they share.
“If I could say more, again, it’s been great, but I would say to show love for one another.”
District Attorney Jennifer Bergman shared her family’s deep historical ties to Cleveland.
“Cleveland, like everyone says, is my home,” she said. “My family has been here since 1880, so I’m the fifth-generation resident of Cleveland, and my kids are our sixth generation.”
She recounted the journey of her great-great-great-grandfather, an Italian blacksmith who settled in Cleveland after arriving in Galveston. His old blacksmith shop once stood near the railroad tracks, where remnants of his tools were discovered when a building was torn down years later. Though she once thought she would leave Cleveland for good, Bergman eventually returned and found herself grateful for the town she once dismissed.
“God has a way of leading us to where we need to be,” she said. “Cleveland is the right place.”
Former Councilwoman Nydia Thomas provided a powerful reminder of Cleveland’s resilience and historical significance.
“If I had one word to describe Cleveland, it would be resilient,” she said.
She likened the city to the setting of the Tom Hanks film Here, which portrays generations of people passing through the same space over time.
She then shared the remarkable journey of her parents, William and Meta Thomas, who immigrated from Panama and became trailblazers in Cleveland’s education system. Her father, William Thomas, helped establish the Negro Chamber of Commerce and became the first black councilman for Cleveland in 1969, serving until his passing in 1985.
“If you see that date, April 4, it is absolutely one year to the day of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King,” she pointed out. “And the City of Cleveland made history by electing him at large.”
He served for more than 16 years on the Cleveland City Council and was deeply involved in civic organizations that encouraged political engagement in the community.
Following his death, her mother, Meta Thomas, became the first black woman to serve on Cleveland City Council, holding office from 1985 to 1992. But her mother’s influence stretched far beyond politics.
“She actually holds the record as one of the longest-serving teachers in this school district,” Thomas shared, explaining that her parents dedicated a combined 82 years of service to Cleveland ISD—28 years for her father and 54 for her mother.
“They saw a lot of change from 1956 segregated schools all the way to integration in 1968 in Cleveland,” she said, adding that their impact on students and the community was immeasurable.
Thomas fondly recalled growing up on Fisher Street, where a strong sense of community was ever-present.
“It was an amazing place to live. At the time that I lived in Cleveland, there were nearly 30 children on that street. One of them happens to be our current mayor [Danny Lee]. And of course, down the street lived our current chief of police [Darrel Broussard].”
She reflected on the many educators, coaches, and civic leaders who resided there, all of whom shaped generations of Cleveland students.
She also touched on her mother’s final contributions to the community—teaching English as a second language, something she was uniquely passionate about as an immigrant. “She understood the importance of English and integrating into the larger society,” Thomas said.
Closing her speech, Thomas acknowledged that her own service on Cleveland City Council was a continuation of her parents’ legacy.
“I have followed in their footsteps,” she said. “But I realized I was merely following in the path they had set—not only for me, but for anyone who has been elected to some public office in the City of Cleveland.”
The Chamber gala would not have been possible without the generous support of sponsors. The presenting sponsor was Frontier Waste Solutions. Gold sponsors were the City of Cleveland, Entergy Texas, Cleveland EDC, Health Center of Southeast Texas, Naskila Casino, Ranch Hand Cafe and Texas Cardiology Associates. Silver sponsors were DeMontrond Ford and Whataburger. Bronze sponsors were Austin Bank, McWilliams Heating, Cooling and Plumbing, Woodforest National Bank, Operation Refuge and LoneStar Cleaners and Boutique.
To see the video shared during the gala, click here: https://www.facebook.com/cityofclevelandtx/videos/2323302708029163
I am sick of hearing about Cleveland. Third World.