ROBERTSDALE – While the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges have hit community businesses, economic growth has continued in the area, member of the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce said Thursday, Jan. 20.

The chamber held is annual meeting at the Baldwin County Coliseum.

In presenting a special award to Gail Quezada for her work as executive director, member Donna Black Givens said the chamber has more than doubled its size in recent years.

“In taking over as executive director in 2015, the chamber had less than 200 members in good standing,” Givens said of Quezada. “Today, under her leadership, hard work, dedication and love for the Central Baldwin community, the chamber has over 400 members – 400 members that are proud to be members of the Central Baldwin Chamber, that participate, that see their value as chamber members and that’s huge.”

Jenny Buck was named 2022 chairwoman at the meeting. She said the last two years have been challenging for businesses, but the chamber has helped members deal with a variety of issues.

“As the owner of a small business, I know what it’s like to face all the uncertainty that’s gone on in the last two years,” Buck said.

She compared recent events to the movie “Jumanji.

“Just about the time you catch your breath, something else pops out of the game and you don’t know what to do,” she said. “I think that these past couple of years have been like that for all of us in the business world. We’re constantly trying to figure out how to operate, stay open, staff. All the challenges that we’ve had going on.”

Buck praised Quezada and other chamber employees and members for their work in the last year.

“I just want to say what a great job the Central Baldwin Chamber, Gail and the leadership and their staff here have done in trying to give us as businesses the resources, the tools that we need to stay open and answer the questions that we may have when government orders come down or grant things come out and other things that we as business owners need to be informed about and need to know about,” she said. “The chamber’s always right there keeping everyone abreast on what’s happening, updating us on all the latest information.”

Buck said she was looking forward to the upcoming year with the chamber.

“Robertsdale celebrated a bit milestone this year with their centennial, and I am extremely excited to start the first year of the next 100 years off as chairwoman of this great board,” Buck said.

Probate Judge Harry D’Olive Jr., 2021 chamber chairman, presented the gavel to Buck at the end of the meeting.

“At this time, my part is complete,” D’Olive said. “I certainly enjoyed this past year as chairman of the Central Baldwin Chamber. It’s been quite an honor and quite a privilege.”

During the meeting, the chamber presented a variety of awards to members. The four municipalities in Central Baldwin each presented an award to a local business.

In Robertsdale, Farm Fresh Meats was recognized.

Loxley presented its award to Kerby Custom Renovations.

The Summerdale Business of the Year was A Paws and Claws pet grooming.

Silverhill presented its award to United Bank.

The Good Government Award went to County Commissioner Billie Jo Underwood.

Longevity in Government awards were presented to retiring Alabama House of Representative members Steve McMillan and Harry Shiver.

The Emerging Small Business Award went to Loxley Nutrition.

The Generations Award was presented to Lee Drug Store of Robertsdale.

The Small Business of the Year Award was given to Gruenloh, Hardy and Associates of Robertsdale.

The Chamber Volunteer of the Year was Kathy Schreiber.

The Community Volunteer of the Year was Stephanie Kroll.

The Fell, Gilbert, Mack, Pearson Founders Award was presented to the family of the late Joe Driver for his service to the community.