Chamber Honors Tuscaloosa Volunteers

Cynthia Warrick and Tripp Powell

Tuscaloosa’s top volunteers for 2019 were recognized earlier this month by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.

Tripp Powell, of Powell Petroleum, was named the 2019 Charles H. Land Member of the Year, the chamber’s highest honor presented to an individual member. Powell, a board member of the chamber, was instrumental in relaunching Young Tuscaloosa, a group of professionals in the West Alabama community. He also was actively involved in the early planning stages of Elevate Tuscaloosa, and has been a leader with the TakeOffTCL effort to bring commercial air service to the region.

The Chamber’s Leadership Award was presented to Cynthia Warrick, president of Stillman College. Warrick has served as Stillman’s president since 2017. Stillman University is a liberal arts institution with a formal affiliation with the Presbyterian Church.

The Robert C. Tanner Corporate Service Award was presented to Buffalo Rock/Pepsi-Cola. The company was recognized for its corporate leadership, philanthropic efforts and community service.

The Minority Business Council Trailblazer Award was presented to Charles Nash, of the University of Alabama System. Nash is senior vice chancellor for academic and student affairs and the chief liaison officer for academic, student, institutional research and planning officials at the University of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham and University of Alabama in Huntsville.

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Allyson Cooper, of the University Medical Center, was named the Ambassador of the Year for service to and on behalf of the chamber’s membership. She is responsible for the business office serving the University Medical Center, Student Health Center and DCH Hospitalists.

The Non-Profit of the Year Award was presented to Tuscaloosa SAFE Center, a community-based agency designed to meet the emotional, medical and forensic needs of sexual assault survivors.

The chamber also presented the Distinguished Service Awards to Michele Coley of The Allstate Coley Agency, David Pass of the Sealy Companies and Elizabeth Winter of Regions Bank. Coley is an Allstate agent offering all types of insurance services. Pass is a real estate investor and manager with the Sealy Companies. Winter is a wealth advisor with Regions Private Wealth Management in Tuscaloosa.

The H. Pettus Randall Entrepreneurial Rising Star Award was presented to Slade Johnston of Trips4Trade. Trips4Trade is a community of outdoorsmen brought together through a linking platform that promotes reliable and affordable dream trips, whether the trips are for hunting, fishing, vacation, adventure or sports.

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