On April 12, the Roane Chamber held its Annual Awards Banquet with a packed house at NOAH’S Event Venue in Kingston.  Leadership Roane County (LRC) shared the special evening, holding their Class of 2019 Graduation and Awards.

The annual banquet is held to honor outstanding Chamber members nominated by their peers. The evening included a reception and silent auction, dinner and dessert. 

 This year’s Roane Chamber award winners included:

• Rick Cox of Rick Cox Construction won the prestigious Paul Cowell Distinguished Service Award for his many years of service to Roane County to make it a better place, supporting education and ministries specifically. Rick Cox Construction, celebrating 22 years this month, was recognized in 2017 by Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest growing private companies in America and ranked #14 in Tennessee and #2 in the Knoxville Metro area.
• The Woman of the Year was awarded to Jill McMaster, Roane Imagination Library, for her tireless efforts to ensure that every child in Roane County has access to free books, bringing 270,000 new books to Roane to date. Currently, 2,150 Roane children receive a new book every month.
• Earl Duff Subaru was named Business of the Year, with Tim Duff accepting the award. In Roane County for 46 years, their strong commitment to charitable causes, like Roane County Animal Shelter, has earned them Subaru’s Gold Love Promise award eight times – more than any other dealership in Tennessee.   
• The Paul E. Goldberg Young Professional award was presented to Mark Patterson, Pattersons Home Appliance, as an under 40 leader that shows great interest and involvement in recruiting and supporting young adults to live and work in Roane.
• Ambassador of the Year went to Henry Redmond for his commitment of time and resources to the mission of the Chamber and the development of the Ambassador team itself; and
• Outgoing Board Chair, Marilyn Calfee, was recognized with a plaque for her dedicated service as a long-time board member and Chamber champion.

Leadership Roane County honored their 2019 graduates and presented their leadership award, named after the founder of LRC – the Dr. Paul Goldberg Leadership Award.  Deb Sumner, a 2017 graduate, received the award given by the alumni.  LRC was well represented among the Chamber’s award winners as well: Tim Duff graduated in 2003, Jill McMaster in 2010, Marilyn Calfee in 2015, and Mark Patterson in 2017.  To learn more about Leadership Roane County visit RoaneChamber.com/Leadership.

The Roane Chamber Awards Banquet is also a fundraiser for the Chamber, providing non-dues revenue to support special programs and events held throughout the year.  Thank you to our sponsors and donors for making this year’s banquet such a success.  This year’s Title Sponsors were Coldwell Banker Jim Henry & Associates and UT Battelle.  Gold Sponsors were Centrus Energy, CNS Y-12, Express Employment Professionals, Harriman Utility Board, NOAH’S Event Venue, ORUD, Regions Bank, Roane State Community College, UCOR and Youth Opportunity Investments.  Thank you to Blue Bell Creameries for providing ice cream, Roane State Community College for the shuttle, Humble Bee Flowers & Gifts for the beautiful table decorations, and Cracker Barrel for providing the meal.  Many businesses donated to the silent auction and for a list of donors and link to the photos visit RoaneChamber.com/banquet.