Female honored as small business person of the year at chamber banquet, first in organization’s history

Published 1:49 pm Friday, October 6, 2017

DALTOn, Ga. — Since opening as a home-based business in 2012, Mama Wilson’s Homemade Cookies & Cakes has gained a reputation that has spread far beyond Dalton. It ships its cookies across North America.

And since opening a retail store in downtown Dalton, it has quickly emerged as one of the pillars of the downtown business community.

On Thursday, owner JaneMarie Wilson made history, being named the first female recipient of the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Person of the Year Award.

“I was totally surprised,” she said. “I’m very flattered and honored and excited. This is pretty awesome.”

Outgoing chamber Chairman Chuck Dobbins said the award goes to a person whose business grows its revenues and its workforce and that is an innovator. Dobbins cited Mama Wilson’s Homemade Cookies & Cakes for its variety of products, including no-sugar added and gluten-free cookies.

Wilson was honored at the chamber’s 77th annual banquet at the convention center.

“This is a celebration for the chamber year, for the businesses that make up our membership,” Dobbins said.

David Aft, president of the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia, received the Chairman’s Award for his service to the community and especially for his role in the creation of Burr Park, a park in downtown Dalton that is being created with a $1 million donation from philanthropist Jeanne Burr.

“I was shocked. It was a bit surreal,” Aft said. “It’s a tremendous honor just to serve this community. I just want to invite everybody else along for the ride. There’s going to be some more magical stuff happening.”

Alan Smith was recognized as the chamber’s Diplomat of the Year, and chamber Vice President Judy Sawyer was honored for 20 years of service.

The evening was one of celebration for a business community that has been growing in recent years after being battered by the Great Recession, but it was also an evening of looking forward. The chamber will roll out its latest strategic plan and community vision on Tuesday, Oct. 17, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. Chamber members have been working on the plan since spring, after unveiling the results of a community assessment and survey.

“This is a plan that will interest and excite our business community,” said incoming chamber Chairman Stuart Nelson.