William Carey University and the Gulf Coast Business Council hosted the inaugural Small Business Leadership Award Luncheon Nov. 12 at the South Beach Event Center in Biloxi.
The Small Business Leadership Award was established by WCU and the Gulf Coast Business Council to recognize the important contributions small businesses make to the economic, social, and cultural life of the community and the particular achievements of one individual or family.
The 2019 Small Business Leadership Award recipient is Geneva Dummer, owner of The Meeting Place. The Meeting Place, a co-working facility, is the first of its kind on the Mississippi Gulf Coast – combining offices, work space, printing service, shipping service, project space, and a conference room. In addition to physical amenities, the business offers services and education across many different fields that businesses need to thrive and grow.
The Meeting Place also provides transition assistance for individuals leaving the armed forces. Dummer lives in Biloxi with her husband, Stephen, a Biloxi attorney, and their two children.
“Small business owners are the backbone of our local economy. We often hear about the accolades of large employers, so it’s important to get together and spend some time recognizing and acknowledging the leadership that small business owners provide in the coastal community,” said Ashley Edwards, CEO of the Gulf Coast Business Council.
“This is one event where we can give particular attention to those who have distinguished themselves through their service and acts of leadership in the community.”
The guest speaker was George Schloegel, former mayor of Gulfport and former CEO of Hancock Bank.
The 2019 nominees were:
Christina Bates— Old School Learning Depot
Krystal Ben—Hair Fetish
Valerie Butler—Val’s Hair Gallery LLC
Kearn Cherry—PRN Home Care
Mark Cumbest—Cumbest Realty, Inc.
Geneva Dummer—The Meeting Place
Brandon Elliott—Elliott Homes
Jerry Favre—Alexander, VanLoon, Sloan, Levens, and Favre, PLLC
Bobby Gillon—The District on Howard Avenue
Gerwin Henn—Just Fish and Pass Road Pet Center
Bryan Jacobs—Bryan Jacobs State Farm
Leigh Jaunsen—Dale Partners Architects
Liz Joachim—Corso Inc.
Fallon Ramage Josef—Fallon’s Café, Catering, and Gourmet To-Go
Marcel Kinnard—Nura Juice Bar
Warren Martin—Animal Care Clinic of Wiggins
Brient Mayfield—Optimal Answers
Andy Norowski—Norowski & Associates DMD
Tony Petro—Petro Chevrolet/Petro Cadillac
Keith Rhodes—Floor Trader
Phil Shaw—Shaw Design Group
Sabrina Stallworth—All Bottled Up
Wendy Wast Stanton—Ladidaa Boutique
Lori West—Humane Society of South MS Spay/Neuter Clinic
Alexis Williams—Aloha Glamour
