Large Business of the Year: REV Federal Credit Union

Launching a full rebrand during the pandemic came with several obstacles, but was ultimately also an opportunity to reposition the organization’s place in the community. As part of this change, the company made a commitment to the communities they serve to support local initiatives in a much larger and more meaningful way. This includes powering local sponsorships, launching monthly givebacks to support area nonprofits, and empowering Team Members to find their volunteer crush and make a positive difference. Their mission is growth with purpose. As an active member of the Chamber, they want to ensure that this community thrives.

Small Business of the Year: OneNation Coffee

The most important thing that sets OneNation Coffee apart from other coffee companies is that the small business gives a portion of all proceeds back to the OneNation Foundation, a 501c3, to help veterans, first responders, and their families. The Richards have partnered locally with Soldiers Angels, PGA Hope, SEALKIDS, and many others. OneNation Coffee is a Veteran and First Responder owned coffee company that provides a variety of roasts ranging from light to dark in addition to coffee pods (familiarly known as k-cups). They sell coffee online, have subscription options, offer wholesale pricing for business, and sell at local retailers to consumers. This year they have grown their staff, relaunched their online retail system to keep up with sales, and created a new SOP for securing beans as they have been challenged by shipping issues.  The company is dedicated to brewing great coffee and cultivating goodwill in their community.  Their message and delicious coffee was even featured on national news!

Nonprofit of the Year: Dorchester Children's Advocacy Center

The primary goal of all children’s advocacy centers (CACs) is to ensure that children disclosing abuse are not further victimized by the intervention systems designed to protect them. CACs are child-focused, facility-based programs with representatives from many disciplines working together to effectively investigate, prosecute, and treat child abuse. CACs are not only child-focused but are also designed to create a sense of safety and security for child victims.  All the services are provided at no cost to the victims. DCAC’s services help provide a greater future for the community as a whole and help end the rippling negative effects from untreated childhood trauma. Despite major budget challenges due to the pandemic, this year the organization will open another location in Moncks Corner to better serve children in more rural parts of Berkeley County.

Emerging Leader of the Year: Jana Riley, Executive Director, Public Works Art Center

Jana Riley was part of the volunteer team that took on what was thought to be an impossible mission: to create a community arts center from the 1939 Summerville, South Carolina Post Office. Jana took on the massive challenge of organizing and coordinating fundraising more than $300,000 for renovations needed to make the 11,000 square foot building accessible to the public; holding "open house" tours for the community to obtain more citizen input; and inviting a wide variety of artists to have the opportunity to rent individual studios at well-below market rates. Being inclusive is one of her most important core values. From the very beginning, she made sure that this project was for everyone in the community, not just the arts-oriented. Since February 2020, more than 20 shows lasting six weeks have been presented in the three galleries – all given to the public for their enjoyment at no cost to the visitors.

Trailblazer of the Year: Alicia Smith, Marketing Coordinator at Brookfield Properties/Nexton Community

Alicia is a self-motivated go-getter who wears many hats at Nexton. She introduces potential homebuyers to the community; plans marketing events from concept to execution; and manages the Nexton Information Cottage. She also oversees community and corporate outreach initiatives that are unique to Nexton. She also spends time giving back to her community and is a  devoted wife and loving mom to a one-year-old boy. Over her six-year career at Nexton, she helped implement and has led the corporate outreach program which has been a major contributor to exceeding homes sales goals each year. 

Volunteer of the Year: Christy Sease, Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union

Christy has a huge passion for locally owned businesses and what they provide the community. As the Business Development Representative for Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union’s South Carolina branches, her focus is establishing relationships and building partnerships.

Christy plays a pivotal role in Bayer’s Community Outreach program, which include helping with food drives, gifts for the elderly in long-term care facilities, donations for local students in need, and showing gratitude for those who serve our communities like hospital staff, police, and firefighters with gifts of kindness.  She has served in the Summerville Chamber’s Ambassador Program, called “Chamber Champions” since 2020 and is always willing to volunteer at Chamber events with a smile on her face.  She is currently a CUNA Marketing and Business Development Council member and has served on the Bayer HFCU Employee Appreciation Committee.

Berlin G Myers Lifetime Achievement Award: Nancyjean Nettles

In 1986, Nancyjean Nettles was part of the team to resurrect Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, which is still a popular event each year.  In 1993, she was selected as the first Director of Summerville DREAM.  In 1998, when she was “retired,” she founded Sculpture in the South. She served as director of both Sculpture in the South and Summerville DREAM from 1999 until 2004. She joined the South Carolina office of the National Audubon Society as Director of Development from 2004 to 2014. In that role, she helped raise funds for the conservation of land for birds and other wildlife and for the construction of Beidler Forest’s new 1.75 mile Boardwalk. And in 2018, she began working toward the opening of what is now Summerville’s arts center. She is the mother of five children; grandmother to 10 grandchildren and boasts three great-grandchildren. She’s been married to Dewey Nettles for almost 27 years.