William Carey University Tradition campus and the Gulf Coast Business Council hosted the second Small Business Leadership Award Luncheon virtually on Sept. 29, 2020.
The Small Business Leadership Award was established by WCU Tradition 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.
Funds raised from the Small Business Leadership Awards Luncheon go towards the WCU Tradition campus School of Business Scholarship Fund. Each year a scholarship is awarded during the luncheon to a deserving student at the Tradition Campus. The 2020 scholarship recipient is Paula M. Hentges. Paula, a native of Picayune, is a senior at William Carey majoring in business with a concentration in workforce training and management.
Paula is a lieutenant with the Harrison County Sheriff ’s Office where she coordinates training of new cadets for the Corrections Training Academy in Gulfport and the Law Enforcement Training Academy in Biloxi.
The 2020 Small Business Leadership Award recipient is Josh Barton, executive director of Home of Grace, a nationally recognized addiction recovery program that has been a beacon of hope for more than 50 years.
In 2019 Home of Grace served 535 people from 11 states. They held 6,420 counseling sessions, 19 clients received their GED, and 102 professions of faith were made.
“We are glad that even with the pandemic going on, we were able to still recognize so many of our small businesses,” said Ashley Edwards, president and CEO of the Gulf Coast Business Council.
“This year it’s especially important to recognize their contributions because this has been a very difficult year for our small businesses both on the coast and across Mississippi. In many ways, small businesses have been the backbone of our local economies that kept them moving. We are very happy to be a part of today’s program and we are glad to honor all of this year’s nominees.”
The keynote speaker was John Hairston, president and CEO of Hancock Whitney Corporation.
The 2020 nominees were:
- Lasha August – Infinity Funeral Home
- Josh Barton – Home of Grace
- Sam Burke – St. Vincent De Paul Community Pharmacy
- Jeremy P. Carothers – Elite Screen Printing
- Kearn Cherry – PRN Home Care & Success Women’s Conference
- Jackie Castro Cooper – Gulf Coast Myofascial Release
- Lekeisha Cotton – Kekeisha Cotton Ministries
- Heather Eason – Comeback Coolers
- Dr. Chris Failla – Kiln Pharmacy
- Bobby Gillon – The District on Howard, Hobbs Construction, Gulf Coast Yankee
- Kristie Gilner – KG Sweet Treats
- Gary Jackson – Jackson’s Discount Pharmacy
- Dr. Yolanda Jerry – YJ Inspires
- Liz Corso Joachim – Corso, Inc.
- Dawn Lieck – Finally Free
- Randi Mura – Colorful Minds LLC
- Amber Olsen – United MSD Foundation
- Tanisha Phillips – Building Behaviors Counseling Services
- Kathy Ruckdeschel – Just For You Embroidery
- Craig Sartin – Sartin’s Discount Drugs Inc.
- Nicolas Strayham- Lamey Electric, Inc.
- Alexis Williams – Aloha Glamour
- Sean and Crystal Westmoreland – Dixie Glass
- Dr. Steve Wilson – North Gulfport Discount Pharmacy
