The Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce held its 113^th annual Membership Banquet and presented this year’s Chamber Awards on Thursday night at the Washington Yacht & Country Club.

Among the winners were: Alma Friedman and Bob Boulden for the Ambassador Award; Rich Morin as Community Leader of the Year; The Meeting Place as Small Business of the Year (one-15 employees); Beaufort County Police Activities League as Nonprofit of the Year; Backwater Jack’s restaurant as Entrepreneur of the Year; Katie Paul and Leigh Furlough as co-Young Professionals of the Year; and First South Bank as Business of the Year (16 or more employees).

A well-attended event, guests filled tables in every nook and cranny of the room, and the award recipients were each invited on stage to say a few words.

Bruce Elder, president and CEO of First South Bank, said he didn’t have any idea about the Business of the Year award until it was being announced on stage.

“We have tried very hard over the last couple of years to have a great economic impact on the community and to have greater community involvement,” he said.

Elder said he began to realize what was happening at the banquet as speaker Ashley Vansant described a financial institution founded in 1902, and although caught off guard, the award proved to be a sort of validation for him and his employees.

“I think what it means most to us is we’ve been transforming our corporate culture over the last several years, and we’ve adopted a set of values, and one of those values is to serve the community, encourage our employees to be more proactive in the community,” he said. “Our value system is taking hold and without the employees of First South Bank and the contributions they’re making into the community, this award would not have been possible.”

Katie Paul, owner of Bardot Hair Salon, said she invited her father to the banquet after he said her mother had to work late. Little did she know that her parents knew about the Young Professional of the Year award and were really there to celebrate.

Paul said she didn’t even know her mother was there until she looked up into the balcony while giving a short speech.

“When I was accepting the award, I look up and my mom was taking a picture with her phone,” she said.

Paul said she often hears people say there isn’t much for young people to do in Washington, but she vowed to stay out of that mindset.

“It doesn’t take a lot of effort to make things happen,” she said.

Through her salon, Paul has been able to hold outreach events, including a Wine & Design-themed gathering and giving free haircuts to children in need at Eastern Elementary School.

But she said none of it was ever done with the expectation of recognition.

“You just never think, ‘Oh, I’m going to get a plaque,’” Paul said, adding that she wants to hang the award somewhere she can see it every day.

Elder said he plans to hang the First South Bank plaque on the boardroom wall at the Carolina Avenue office.

“We are honored and humbled to have been selected for this recognition,” Elder said.