Gwinnett Chamber Foundation honors small business leaders at inaugural Power of Impact gala

By - Cory Self December 29, 2025 Comments (0) 3 Mins Read

Suwanee – The Gwinnett Chamber Foundation recognized small business leaders, coaches and corporate partners during its inaugural Power of Impact Gala & Awards held Dec. 3 at Bear’s Best Suwanee. The event drew more than 130 business professionals in support of the Foundation’s work to strengthen and scale small businesses across the county.

The gala highlighted individuals and organizations that have advanced the Foundation’s mission through mentorship, certification, operational support and business-readiness initiatives.

“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.

Award recipients

The inaugural awards recognized:

Legacy Business Leader of the Year: Dr. 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 Foundation’s board. “The individuals recognized this year have shown what intentional leadership can make possible for small business owners preparing to scale and compete.”

Small Business Impact Institute graduates

Cohort Graduates from left to right: Michelle Barefield, My Therapy by Michelle; 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; and Berthine Crevecoeur West, Westbridge Solutions

The Foundation also celebrated graduates of the 2025 Small Business Impact Institute (SBII), including:

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); and Berthine Crèvecoeur West (Westbridge Solutions).

Seven graduates also completed supply-chain certifications: Jeimy Arias, Alicia Cole, Luisa Gaitan, Vonda Harris, Nancy McGill, Alexandra Radford (The Edge Agency) and Berthine Crèvecoeur West.

“We exist to accelerate and champion business,” said Nick Masino, president and 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.”

Looking ahead

The Foundation will continue its support for local entrepreneurs with its next Mind Your Business Series, presented in partnership with the City of Suwanee. The series expands technical assistance and business-readiness programming to more communities across Gwinnett.

More information is available at GwinnettChamberFoundation.org/Events.