Four neighborhood businesses shared honors at Wednesday’s Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce business awards luncheon, held before an overflow crowd at C.C. Young Retirement Community’s new Point facility. U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, a neighborhood resident, was the keynote speaker and presented the awards.
The Entrepreneur of the Year Award went to Darlene Doxey Ellison, an executive with Professional Bank Lakewood and owner of High Touch Alliances. The Chairman’s Award was presented to DART and longtime chamber volunteer Michael Miles and to Sedona Oil and Gas. And the Hensarling Award for Business of the Year was presented to Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Other nominees for the Entrepreneur of the Year Award were Hall’s Landscape and Times Ten Cellars. Also nominated for the Chairman’s Award was Dallas police chief Jan Easterling. And up for the Hensarling Business of the Year Award were AmReit, Black White Read, C.C. Young/The Point, Dallas Children’s Theater, Eastfield College, For the Love of the Lake, Herb’s Paint and Body Shops, Highlands Cafe, McShan’s Florist, Prescott Realty Group, Shakespeare Dallas, TopGolf Dallas and the White Rock Lake Foundation.
The Chamber also announced plans for a Taste of East Dallas event Sept. 12 from noon-5 p.m. at the Dallas Children’s Theater, featuring neighborhood residents serving up samples, beverages available for purchase and other entertainment. Admission is $10 for adults; children under 8 are free. Chamber vice chairman Vic Clesi, who’s heading up the event, says there is room for additional restaurants at the tasting; contact Clesi at 214-328-4124 or email the chamber.
And Oct. 13, the Chamber’s 5th Annual Economic Summit will be held at C.C. Young’s The Point and feature state senators John Carona and Florence Shapiro, Vision North Texas’ Karen Walz, C.C. Young’s Ken Durand, neighborhood architect Gerry Worrall talking about the Garland Road Initiative, Texas Association of Realtors president Benny McMahan and a number of other speakers discussing East Dallas-area real estate construction and redevelopment projects. For information, call 214-328-4100 or email the chamber. Cost is $65 for individuals and includes refreshments through the morning and lunch.
