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If a packed house is any indication, the Savannah Downtown Business Association’s first annual awards gala, held Tuesday evening at Savannah Station, was a rousing success.
Combining two major annual events — its celebration of service and entrepreneur of the year luncheons — the SDBA gala brought out a dozen local food professionals to showcase their wares while master of ceremonies Jamie Deen presided over the program.
Wet Willie’s Management Team was named the SDBA Business of the Year, an award recently established to recognize a business that has provided outstanding support, both with contributions and service to the SDBA and downtown Savannah.
“Through their contributions to the organization, they have made possible many events and other activities that have enhanced and promoted the downtown area, making downtown Savannah a better place to do business,” said SDBA gala committee member Michele Thompson.
In addition, Thompson said, Emily Dickenson of Wet Willie’s continues to serve on the SDBA board as its vice president for marketing, doing an exceptional job promoting the SDBA and all of its events.
Jeffrey D. Heinz of Kaufman-Heinz LLC event planning and management services was honored as SDBA Board Member of the Year.
This award honors a board member who has gone above and beyond to make programs and events possible.
“Jeff has been at every luncheon, all of the Blues on Broughton concerts and any other event that required technical support,” said gala sponsor Jeanne Brooks of “the essential guide.”
“As vice president of programming, he has been responsible not only for the setups at the luncheons and other events, but also assisting in the decisions regarding speakers, major sponsors and other presenters.”
The Elizabeth Patterson Memorial Award for Entrepreneur of the Year went to Johnnie Ganem Inc.
The award was established in 2010 to honor the memory and contributions of Elizabeth Patterson, who served as President of the Savannah Downtown Business Association for three years, from 2004 through 2006. “She was instrumental in getting the city of Savannah involved in promoting the downtown area and the local merchants and is credited with helping to re-energize the organization,” said gala sponsor Mark Tate of the Tate Law Group.
Recognizing downtown business owners who have maintained a successful business for at least a decade, making a difference along the way, the Patterson Entrepreneur of the Year award is one of the group’s most coveted, Tate said. Other nominees for this year’s award were Wet Willie’s, Globe Shoes, Savannah Tire and Jere’s Antiques.
WJCL-TV co-anchor Kevin Holmes presented the Ron Higgins Memorial Award for outstanding customer service to Cheryl McQueen of the River Street Inn.
The award, first presented at the SDBA’s Celebration of Service luncheon in November of 2010, just months after Higgins’ sudden death, honors the standard of customer service that he set.
“Ron loved this city and did everything he could to make it better for tourism,” said Joe Marinelli, president of Visit Savannah, adding that Higgins served on that board of directors and volunteered for numerous task forces.
Higgins also served on the SDBA board for several years.
Serving up their specialties for the standing-room-only crowd of more than 200 were The Lady & Sons, Cynthia Creighton-Jones of Cape Creations, Mark Thomas of Magnolia Catering, Chef Mark Scomo of Savannah Events Catering, the Bohemian Hotel’s Rocks on the Roof, Eden Geib of Corleone’s, Maison de Macarons, Papa’s Barbecue and Seafood, Marco’s Pizza, Sticky Fingers and the Melting Pot.
THE WINNERS
SDBA Board Member of the Year: Jeffrey D. Heinz, Kaufman-Heinz LLC
SDBA Business of the Year: Wet Willie’s Management Corp.
The Ron Higgins Memorial Award for Best Customer Service: Cheryl McQueen, River Street Inn
The Elizabeth Patterson Memorial Award for Entrepreneur of the Year: Johnnie Ganems Inc