Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong speaks at the Small Business Awards ceremony. (Record Photo/Nick Sellers)

By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer

HUNTSVILLE – The cocktail hour started at 6 p.m. and was the precursor to the Small Business Awards ceremony hosted by the Madison Chamber of Commerce at the Jackson Center in Huntsville Oct. 16.

Local radio personality Stuart Langston was the evening’s emcee and introduced speakers Mary Lynne Wright – vice president of the Chamber Board of Directors and President of Madison Hospital – and Mayor Troy Trulock, who rushed to the event after appearing in James Clemens’ homecoming parade.

Realtor Clif Miller delivered the invocation before attendees enjoyed their meals and a video detailing progress over the Madison County Commission’s five districts.

County Commission Chairman Dale Strong, the ceremony’s featured speaker, lauded the efforts of all the attendees and gave a glowing address of the County’s business scene.

“I truly believe that Madison’s best days are still ahead,” Strong asserted.

The first award given out was to Kimberly Hardee of IBERIABANK for the Chamber Ambassador of the Year honor. Kristen Strickland and Richard King presented the award.

MindGear Labs nabbed the 2014 Startup of the Year Award. Other nominees were Sady’s Bistro and Last Resort Guns.

The next award, the “most closely contested competition,” according to Mary Lynne Wright, was given to Beth Martin of Progress Bank for Excellence in Leadership. Martin thanked her coworkers for the honor.

“No person is on an island,” Martin said. “I’ve got a great support team.”

Madison Police Chief Larry Muncey was recognized with the Community Service Award.

“The men and women of the Police force deserve this,” Muncey said. “They are 113 of the best people I’ve worked with in my entire life. Thirteen volunteers, 14 part-time workers all make the force what it is.”

The awards portion reached its conclusion when Best Western Plus Madison-Huntsville won Small Business of the Year.

“I can’t begin to tell you how much this is going to mean to our team members,” general manager Debbie Newman said.

The evening concluded with a champagne toast to all the winners.