Beaufort County’s finest were honored Thursday night.

The Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce hosted its 114^th-annual Membership Banquet and Awards at the Turnage Theatre in downtown Washington.

The evening kicked off in the Turnage art gallery, with hor d’oeurves provided by The Meeting Place. Guests than moved into the theater to view a short video announcing the award winners. Each winner was invited up front to receive a plaque and say a few words to the crowd.

The winners were as follows:

• Paige Allen Harris-Community Leader of the Year
• B.E. Singleton & Sons-Business of the Year
• Rachel K’s Bakery-Small Business of the Year
• Michael Lee-Entrepreneur of the Year
• Optimist Club/Young Life on the Pamlico-Nonprofits of the Year
• Stuart O’Neal-Young Professional of the Year
• Alma Friedman/Bob Boulden-Chamber Ambassadors of the Year

Event organizers wanted to change up the schedule of events this year, according to Catherine Glover, executive director of the Chamber. In years past, the banquet involved a heavier meal and multiple speeches to honor the winners.

Glover said the Chamber decided to switch the venue to the Turnage Theatre and was inspired to announce the winners in a relaxed, film format instead.

Rachel Midgette, owner of Rachel K’s Bakery, said she was proud to win Small Business of the Year, and she was happy to bring the award home for her staff, as well.

“I’m pretty happy about it,” Midgette said. “I’m blown away day by day by the support.”

Rachel K’s also won a joint award in 2014 as co-Small Business of the Year with Perfect Perks Coffee.

Midgette said it can be easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day aspects of operating a business, but the award was a good reminder to keep pushing forward.

“It’s kind of a tangible indication of how much the business is appreciated,” Midgette said. “It’s just … a confirmation that we’re going in the right direction.”

The Chamber of Commerce added 49 new members in 2016, totaling more than 430 businesses, according to its yearend report. With the joint Chamber-Visitor Center location on Stewart Parkway, staff greeted about 7,200 visitors to the area in 2016, the report states.