The Annual Dinner Presented by Gwinnett Medical Center is a celebration of the people of Gwinnett, who by their service, volunteerism and commitment, allowed Gwinnett to reach new heights and set future goals to strive for. The January black-tie-optional spectacular serves as an opportunity for more than 1,000 of Gwinnett’s finest to celebrate those that have made significant contributions to enhance our quality of life, make Gwinnett a better place to live, improve our education, medical and public service communities.
The highlight of the gala includes presentations of Citizen of the Year, Public Service, and Ambassador of the Year honors, and the presentation of the D. Scott Hudgens Humanitarian Award to the charitable institution best embodying the spirit of compassion and generosity to which Hudgens was so deeply committed.
“Gwinnett Medical Center is proud and honored to be the Presenting Sponsor of this year’s Annual Dinner and to have the opportunity to recognize outstanding accomplishments in our community. It’s exciting to celebrate those who give their time and talent to make Gwinnett a better place to live and play,” said Philip R. Wolfe, President & CEO, Gwinnett Medical Center.
In 2008, the 60th Annual Dinner celebrated one of the most successful years in the Chamber’s rich history.
2007 Gwinnett Chamber Highlights and Accomplishments
Economic Development
- Launched the Partnership Gwinnett Economic and Community Development Strategy with key public and private community partners at a high visibility press conference with Lt. Governor Casey Cagle at the State Capitol. The initiative will generate more than 65,000 net new jobs and $5.8 billion in new wealth over the next five years.
- Secured nearly $6 million in commitments since July 1 for Partnership Gwinnett and used these funds to leverage an additional $500,000 in State grants for local economic and community development efforts.
- Worked on more than 30 major relocations and expansions including those of Meggitt Training Systems fats/caswell, Horizon Software International, Scientific Atlanta, A Cisco Company, Peak 10, and Time Warner. These efforts resulted in thousands of new high wage jobs and hundreds of millions in new capital investment.
- Staffed one of the largest economic development departments in the Southeast with business development experts in the fields of Advanced Communications, Information Technology, Health Care, Distribution and Trade, and Regional and Corporate Headquarters.
- Launched the television format of VISION: The Voice of Economic Development for Gwinnett County.
Public Policy and Community Development
- Created the Chamber’s first Legislative Agenda and Transportation Strategy focusing on investments in water and transportation infrastructure, education and workforce, small business and economic development, and quality of life issues.
- Using the Governor’s Certified Work Ready Community program, we partnered with the County, Gwinnett Technical College, Georgia Gwinnett College, and Gwinnett County Public Schools to match life science industry workforce needs with the curriculum of students.
- Led the Chamber’s largest delegation to date on the Strategic Leadership Visit to Collin County, Texas to study best practices in economic development, transportation, arts and tourism, revitalization, and minor league baseball and soccer.
- Hosted the largest Principal for a Day program in Georgia with Gwinnett County Public Schools, placing more than 100 senior executives and CEOs from our Board and Chairman’s Club into local schools and creating our first-ever waiting list.
- Organized and led Georgia’s largest Chamber sponsored delegation on our annual Washington DC Fly-In to discuss important federal issues affecting Gwinnett.
- Became an active participant of the steering committee and helped craft legislative recommendations for Get Georgia Moving - a coalition of organizations from across the state pursing statewide transportation funding solutions.
- Led the effort in Gwinnett to rally business support for Delta’s successful bid to secure an air route to Shanghai, China.
- Hosted three Presidential Candidates at our Government Affairs Forums: Senator Fred Thompson, Governor Mitt Romney, and Governor Mike Huckabee.
- Attracted more than 800 nominations for Leadership Gwinnett and graduated its 22nd class in May. There are now more than 750 alumni.
Membership and Business Development
- Named and honored as one of the top three large chambers in the United States by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) for organizational strength, growth and economic and community development initiatives.
- Launched a new, user friendly, interactive Web site targeting multiple audiences, with enhanced content management functionality and increasing hits to nearly 1 million per month.
- Hosted more than 320 networking and business development events attended by more than 35,000 participants.
- Coordinated more than 150 ribbon cuttings & groundbreakings.
- Added more than 850 new general members and 70 new Chairman’s Club members.
- Launched the Small Business University with a focus on assisting both start up and growth stage small businesses in the areas of marketing, finance, legal issues, succession planning, operations, human resources, and more.
- Launched the new Pinnacle Small Business Awards Gala, honoring Gwinnett’s top 25 small businesses and naming Canvas Systems as Gwinnett’s Top Small Business of the Year.
- Hosted the largest Annual Dinner with a sellout crowd of over 1,030 guests-room capacity.
- The Chamber’s 2007 Total Resource Campaign’s final of $608,000 easily surpassed its $525,000 goal and the 2006 campaign final of $505,000 that was already one of the most successful, first year campaigns by any Chamber in the U.S.
- Hosted the Chamber’s largest Chamber Challenge with over 500 guests-golf, tennis, wine tasting and barbeque.
To view more pictures from the 60th Annual Dinner, click HERE.
To view a list of Award Winners, click HERE.
Members wishing to learn more about sponsorship opportunities or to register for this event should call 770-232-3000 or email annualdinner(at)gwinnettchamber.org.
