Nominations for the 2023 Annual Awards and Gala are now open. Select the category below you would like to nominate, click the button to download the nomination form and return to the Chamber team.
Three Words to Describe Me:Adventurous, Intuitive, Ambitious
Passions:Music, Event Planning, Traveling, Exploring Nature and Food
Life Motto: “To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you lived. This is to have succeeded.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Top of Bucket List:To travel the world (anywhere) and immerse myself in a culture!
If I Could Trade Places with Anyone for a Day:Taylor Swift
Greatest Achievement:Successfully opening and owning my own event planning company, which was a dream of mine since I was 16.
Ask Me About: Traveling, entrepreneurship, cooking & baking and my hedgehogs!
Gretchen Rusden
FUN FACTS
Three Words to Describe Me: Silly, Loyal, Loving.
Passions: Family, Friends and Gnomes
Ask Me About: Arizona
Life Motto: Life’s a Garden, Dig It.
If I Could Trade Places with Anyone for a Day: Someone with a lot of disposable income.
Greatest Achievement: Building a family.
April Milupi
FUN FACTS
Three Words to Describe Me: Maternal, open minded, creative
Passions: Family, social media, fashion, creating
Life Motto: Make a life, make a living, make a difference (Oglethorpe University motto, alma mater)
Top of Bucket List: Visiting Victoria Falls in Zambia is just one of many!
If I Could Trade Places with Anyone for a Day: My son, he is living his best life in his own unique bubble.
Greatest Achievement: Becoming a mother, nothing has topped that so far.
Ask Me About: My knowledge of odd facts on unique subjects.
Diane MacDonald
FUN FACTS
Three Words to Describe Me: Adventurous, Goofy, Creative
Passions: Art, Animals, Family
Life Motto: Trust your gut
Top of Bucket List: Visit Scotland
If I Could Trade Places with Anyone for a Day: Willy Wonka
Greatest Achievement: Staying sane in a crazy world
Ask Me About: Harry Potter and resin
Susan Spears
FUN FACTS
Three Words to Describe Me: Loyal, Enthusiastic, Determined
Passions: Music, Sports, Labradors, Arts, Fashion
Life Motto: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” – Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Top of Bucket List: It involves the OBX and 5,000 square feet
If I Could Trade Places with Anyone for a Day: Bono
Ask Me About: The time I met Mick Jagger.
Wendy Zelazny
FUN FACTS
Three Words to Describe Me: Adventurous, Optimistic, Focused
Passions: Travel, Food, Cooking, Tennis, Gym
Life Motto: “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” Thomas Alva Edison
Top of Bucket List: Traveling throughout Europe, living like a native, learning languages, taking cooking classes, & eating great food!
If I Could Trade Places with Anyone for a Day: Julia Child
Greatest Achievement: My children.
Ask Me About: What I’ve cooked recently or favorite place I’ve traveled to.
Carley Walker
FUN FACTS
Three Words to Describe Me: Enthusiastic, Outgoing & Open
Passions: Family, Community Engagement and Women’s Empowerment
Life Motto: “Try to be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.” – Maya Angelou
Top of Bucket List: I call it a living list. And way too many ideas, opportunities and adventures to list!
If I Could Trade Places with Anyone for a Day: My daughter!
Greatest Achievement: Staying positive most days of my life!
Ask Me About: I love talking, learning and exploring topics I know nothing about with people who do.
