Chamber Marks 2025 Membership Dinner with Record Attendance, New Leaders
-The following first appeared at Floyd Times on November 24, 2025.
The Floyd County Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner, Silent Auction and Awards Ceremony at the Floyd EcoVillage Event Center Tuesday evening saw record attendance.
“We have over 140 attending and over 80 Silent Auction items,” said Kathy Fett, the Chamber’s Executive Director. Attendees included Chamber members, local non-profits, members of the Town Council and Board of Supervisors, the County Administrator and winners of the C4 Business Development Series.
Guests enjoyed a spread of appetizers, a cash bar and a catered dinner by renowned Floyd chef Michael Gucciardo. They mingled and bid on a wide array of Silent Auction items that were donated by local businesses. These included gift cards, pottery, art, clothing, Mill Mountain Theater, Floydfest and Yoga Jam tickets, gift baskets and more.
Following an Invocation by Bobby Gardner Jr., Chamber co-chair Deborah Bunn welcomed attendees. Chair Joy Gardner called the Chamber’s meeting to order for electing and reelecting 2026 Board Members.
Lydeana Martin, Floyd’s Community and Economic Development Director, presented awards to the 11th annual C4 Business Development Series winners. Out of 28 participants, Karina Miller and Mitchell Pittman took the top prize of $5,000 for their business, Thrive Hive, a Smoothie and Juice Cafe.
Pamela Logan of WIN Care, a family health and urgent care facility, placed second in the competition, receiving a $3,500 prize. Third place winners, Kismet Cleaning Company and R&D Floral tied for a prize of $1,850 each. Ashlee Watkins and Andrew Small of Mountain Music Solutions received $1,000 for a 2nd Annual Champion of Entrepreneurship Award.
From the podium, Fett recapped the progress the Chamber made in 2025. She stated that there were over 9 business Ribbon Cuttings and Open House events, most taking place in the third quarter of this year. “I just don’t even take the scissors out of my car anymore,” she said.
Other 2025 Chamber projects and events that brought the local business community together included member lunches, business after-hours gatherings, attending Small Town Summer events, donating about $2,000 in scholarships to FCHS students, redesigning the Floyd Visitor’s Center and obtaining Small Business Group Health Insurance, which Fett noted was as “a big coup for our small town.”
“The big one for me is that we formed the Youth Professional Group under the leadership of Robert Carrington.” Fett said. She noted that Floyd has a large number of non-profits and that Floyd is a giving community, but a lot of the volunteers are 60 or older.
“I thought maybe we need to go out and mentor the younger people to give back to non-profits and the community,” Fett said. The Young Professionals group currently ranges from age 23 to 50 and grew from an initial 8 members to 28 in 2 months.
Fett asked the Young Professionals in the audience to stand and be recognized. “These people are the future leaders of Floyd,” she said. She reported that the members will be volunteering at The Perfect Gift Shop and working on a joint event at the June Bug Center in the spring.
Speaking about upcoming 2026 Chamber events, Fett stated that the Chamber would be developing an Ambassador Program for non-board members who want to get more involved. Other plans include obtaining sponsorships to support the Chamber and hosting a Business Expo, a Pink Floyd Day and a VA250 event for our country’s 250 anniversary.
The Awards Ceremony presented by Fett and newly elected Chamber Officer David Weeks brought rousing applause from the audience. Katt Whittenberger, Navy veteran and founder and executive director of Mountain Valor Veteran Services, was awarded Chamber Non-profit of the Year for the caregiving support, resource navigation and outreach Mountain Valor provides to rural veterans.
Executive Director at The Floyd Center for the Arts Keela Dooley Marshall received an award for Non-Profit Leader of the year. A Business of the Year was awarded to Travis and Kristin Crawford, owners of The Blue Ridge Diner and winners of WBJ7’s Hometown Eats Restaurant Rumble of The New River Valley competition. An Executive Director Award went to Lori Kusamaul of Blue Ridge Florist and Gifts.
Presenting Business Leader of the Year award to Andy Finn of Finn Graphics, Fett commented that he was “a stellar example of what a business leader should be.” Government Leader of the Year award went to Tabitha Hodge, Floyd’s Community and Economic Development Assistant Director. “She helps other people reach their dreams,” Fett remarked.
Haden Polseno-Hensley and Rose McCutchan of Red Rooster Coffee Roaster were honored for their outstanding accomplishment of being recognized by the US Chamber of Commerce as one of the top 100 small businesses in the country.
Attendees responded with a standing ovation when long serving Board Officials and Directors – Joy Gardner, Vicki Spangler and Derek Wall –were honored. With over 47 years of combined service, these three Chamber leaders are stepping down from their positions but will continue to provide input and expertise.
Fett asked the Executive Board and all Board members to stand and be recognized. “These are the new leaders,” she said to applause. “We’re going to lead the Chamber to the next step-up,” she added, predicting that “Floyd is going to be one of the strongest small-town Chambers in Virginia.”
As the evening drew to a close, it was reported that the Silent Auction brought in $7,500.
