2019 Small Business Person of the Year Award

Brian Martin

Righteous Guitars

In 2015, Martin founded Righteous Guitars with the vision of building the finest guitar store in the Southeast and one of the top 10 guitar stores in the world. The National Association of Music Merchants has recognized Righteous Guitars as being one of the Top 100 Music Stores in the world for the past three years. Martin has put his stamp on the high-end guitar market with a deluxe showroom, over-the-top service, and an inventory studded with exclusive models from Gibson, Paul Reed Smith, and others.

2019 Nonprofit Leader of the Year Award

Dr. Steven Palmer

The Cottage School

Dr. Steven Palmer has served at every level from teacher to Superintendent. Through his leadership as Head of School, The Cottage School has grown significantly and continues to expand and advance to meet the needs of every child who may find success in a non-traditional learning environment.  The Cottage School has been recognized for excellence by distinguished educators, counselors and psychologists and was named by the Masters in Special Education Resource Guide as one of their Top 50 Best Private Special Needs Schools in the United States.

Business Person of Excellence Award Winners

Christy Cross, CoZzzy Comfy, LLC

Bonnie Mauldin, The Mauldin Group

Harry Maugans, Clickagy

Tracey Grace, IBEX IT Business Experts, LLC

Community Impact Award Winners

Chris Nelson, Chattahoochee Nature Center

Alli Neal, Revved Up Kids, Inc.

Amy O’Dell, Jacob’s Ladder Neurodevelopment School and Therapy Center