PENSACOLA, Fla. – The area’s top leaders in business and community were honored last night at the 50th Annual PACE Awards hosted by the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.
Honorees were: Debbie Calder - Emerging Leader of the Year; Dr. James Andrews – Professional Leader of the Year; Dr. Coy Irvin – Community Leader of the Year; Dave and Mary Hoxeng – Business Leader of the Year; and James and Betty Salter – Spirit of Pensacola.
The honorees were recognized in front of more than 400 business and community leaders, elected officials and peers who attended the event at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front.
Calder was recognized for her leadership at Navy Federal Credit Union, where she oversees the day-to-day operations of the 1,200-employee company. Navy Federal is the largest economic development project in Northwest Florida in 10 years.
The Chamber recognized Andrews for excellence in research and injury-prevention at the Andrews Institute, a $56 million facility with 130 employees which he established in 2007. Andrews has served 40,000 patients in the past 35 years, including an impressive roster of professional athletes.
Irvin was honored for his commitment to the 450th anniversary as chairman of Celebrate Pensacola. Irvin led a group of volunteers in hosting numerous special events from the Spanish royal visit and Elcano tall ship to art exhibits, battle reenactments and educational programs.
The Hoxengs were recognized for their business practices and commitment to the community. Combined, the two serve on a dozen boards in Pensacola. In 2009, Cat Country became the first to win both Radio Station of the Year and Personalities of the Year in the history of the Academy of Country Music.
The last award of the evening was given to Betty and James Salter for their work with Habitat for Humanity. The Salters have volunteered full-time for Habitat for Humanity for the past 30 years, building a total of 650 houses for 2,500 people.
Since 1959, the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce has honored more than 160 of the best and brightest in business and community. The evening’s event was sponsored by members of the Chamber. Gold sponsors were Andrews Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center and Gulf Power Company; Highpointe Hotel Corporation was the silver sponsor; and bronze sponsors were Emmanuel, Sheppard & Condon, International Paper; and Saltmarsh, Cleaveland, & Gund, CPAs.
For more information on the PACE awards, contact Hope Allen at 438-4081. |
