It was a night to celebrate the people who have made — and continue to make — an impact on our community.

The winners from the Chamber of Commerce’s annual Community Impact Awards all were deserving of their honor. Kha McDonald, the woman of the year, Bob “Hutch” Hutchison Legacy Award winner Brookwood School, Entrepreneur of the Year Spencer Young, Non-profit of the Year The Treehouse, Small Business of the Year SouthLife Supply Co., Large Business of the Year New Hire Solutions and Manufacturer of the Year Cleaver Brooks all have left positive and indelible marks on the community. We’re glad they are part of our community.

The other finalists also merit recognition. The Small Business of the Year nominees Bobby Dollar’s Appliance Consultants and Plantation Landscape Supply, Inc., are thriving mainstays. Secure Records Solutions and KeySouth Real Estate Group, the Large Business of the Year nominees, have grown. Christopher Jones, the owner of Secure Records Solutions, and Scott Chastain, founder of Everfan, rightfully were nominees for Entrepreneur of the Year. Evoqua, which also has partnered with the Chamber to help young people find a path in life, was the other nominee for Manufacturer of the Year.

Caldwell and Langford Insurance and TC Federal Bank, both with strong community involvement and presences too, were nominated for the Legacy Award. Hands On Thomas County and Jack Hadley Black History Museum, both also essential parts of the community, were nominated as Non-profit of the Year. And Laura Pike and Shelley Zorn, both actively involved in making Thomasville and Thomas County even better places to live, were nominated for Woman of the Year.

To them, and to many others who may not have named finalists, we offer our sincere gratitude for everything they do to help Thomasville and Thomas County be such a great place to live and work. We hope their efforts continue.