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Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 64F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph..
Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 64F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph.
Updated: December 13, 2024 @ 8:35 pm
December 13, 2024
Steve Conner
Gina Spagnola
Steve Conner
Gina Spagnola
GALVESTON
The Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce at its annual meeting Jan. 25 will recognize three founding member businesses along with individuals and organizations that have made a lasting impact on the island.
The event, held at the Galveston Island Convention Center, 5600 Seawall Blvd., also will feature the second annual Galveston Island Country Music Fest.
This year, the 2024 “Nonno” Tony Smecca Galvestonian of the Year Award will be presented to Steven Conner, a past chamber chairman and president and CEO of Regent Care Centers. Conner is being honored for his work mentoring youth as a longtime board member and past president of Big Brothers Big Sisters Gulf Coast.
“Steven is one of those amazing people who freely gives of his time,” Chamber President and CEO Gina Spagnola said. “He’s a passionate advocate for the chamber and a steadfast leader in our community.”
The 2024 Christie Mitchell Beachcomber Award goes to the Galveston Wharves, which operates the Port of Galveston. As the fourth most popular U.S. cruise port, it welcomed more than 3 million passengers in 2023 and moved 3.6 million tons of cargo, contributing $6.5 billion in statewide economic impact. The Christie Mitchell Beachcomber Award, created by George P. Mitchell in honor of his brother Christie, recognizes individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations that promote the island as much as Christie Mitchell did.
The chamber will present the inaugural Heritage Award to Galveston Texas City Pilots, a maritime institution with a mission of ensuring safe navigation since 1845. This award will now be an annual tradition, celebrating people and organizations with lasting influence on the region’s maritime industry.
Recognized with the Pioneer in Texas Journalism Award, The Daily News holds the title of Texas’s oldest continuously published newspaper. Since 1842, it has chronicled Galveston’s most pivotal moments, shaping the narrative of the region for 183 years.
Additional 2024 honorees:
• H. Rudy Teichman Maritime Wheel of the Year: Donna Lang, Texas A&M University at Galveston
• International Business of the Year: UTMB Health
• Regional Impact Award: Del Papa Distributing Company
• President’s Award of Excellence: Jay Carnes, Carnes Funeral Home
• Large Business of the Year: MOTU
• Small Business of the Year: Window Box Florist (formerly Mainland Floral) and Treasure Island Trophies and Engraving
• “Vic Pierson” C-Crewe Award: Texas Tail Distillery
• Navigators of the Year: Amanda Wiggins, Schooley Mitchell and Shannon McAllister, Paul Davis Restoration
After the award presentations, the Galveston Island Convention Center stage is reset for a country music concert. Drake Milligan and The Powell Brothers will perform. Milligan, known for his soulful sound and comparisons to legends like Elvis Presley and George Strait, will headline this year’s event. Opening the show is The Powell Brothers, Houston’s high-energy country/Southern rock duo.
Tickets, tables, and sponsorships are now on sale at GalvestonCountryMusicFest.com.
Steve Conner
Gina Spagnola
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