GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. (December 4, 2025) — The Gwinnett Chamber Foundation hosted its inaugural Power of Impact Gala & Awards on December 3 at Bear’s Best Suwanee. The event brought together more than 100 business professionals in support of the Foundation’s mission to accelerate small business growth through certification, technical assistance, and access to opportunity.
“This program honors the organizations and individuals who advance our work to prepare small businesses for supply-chain readiness, strengthen their operational capacity, and connect them with leaders who offer real experiential insight and mentorship,” said Deirdra Cox, Executive Director of the Gwinnett Chamber Foundation.
This year’s award recipients included:
- Legacy Business Leader of the Year: William “Bill” Russell
- Certification Cohort Member of the Year: Alicia Cole, Lillies Boutique
- Accelerator Cohort Member of the Year: Berthine Crèvecoeur West, Westbridge Solutions
- Coaches of the Year: Ferdinand Risco, B2G Coach; and Stacy Risco, The Pink Patch Group
- Corporate Advocate of the Year: Verizon + Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
- Corporate Champion of the Year: Georgia Power
“Our business community moves forward when people invest in others,” said Matthew Yarbrough, Chair of the Gwinnett Chamber Foundation Board. “The individuals recognized this year have shown what intentional leadership can make possible for small business owners preparing to scale and compete.”
The program also recognized this year’s Small Business Impact Institute (SBII) Cohort Graduates:
- Coach Jeimy Arias – Lead with Coach Jeimy
- Michelle Barefield – My Therapy by Michelle
- Randell Beck – Studio Lensa
- Derrick Bell – Arrowhead Plumbing
- Audris Campbell – Research Gurus
- Alicia Cole – Lillies Boutique
- Lizbeth Contreras – Building Ideas Remodeling
- Luisa Gaitan – Challenge 2 Get Fit Training
- Vonda Harris – VALT Enterprises
- Marvin Jinx – Wilmington Insurance Advisors
- Nancy McGill – Cartridge World Lawrenceville
- Berthine Crevecoeur West – Westbridge Solutions
Seven of these graduates also earned their supply-chain certifications including Jeimy Arias, Lead with Coach Jeimy; Alicia Cole, Lillies Boutique; Luisa Gaitan, Challenge 2 Get Fit Training; Vonda Harris, VALT Enterprises; Nancy McGill, Cartridge World Lawrenceville; Alexandra Radford, The Edge Agency; and Berthine Crèvecoeur West, Westbridge Solutions.
“We exist to accelerate and champion business,” added Nick Masino, President & CEO of the Gwinnett Chamber and the Gwinnett Chamber Foundation. “The impact of these honorees is a direct reflection of that mission and of the momentum they help create for the businesses we serve.”
The Foundation will continue its support of small businesses with its next installment of the Mind Your Business Series, developed in partnership with the City of Suwanee. The series expands the Foundation’s technical assistance and business-readiness programming across Gwinnett. More information is available at GwinnettChamberFoundation.org/Events.