St. Mary Chamber of Commerce annual banquet

Karla Byron accepted the Virginia Tyler Guillotte award from Chuck Autin Thursday during the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet. The two were close friends of the award’s namesake who died at the age of 46 in 1999. Byron is a Morgan City native noted for her volunteerism with the Chamber and as an organizer of local festivals. She is the owner of La’ Portrait Gallery in Patterson and president of the Professional Photographers of Louisiana. Edie Nezat, center, received the President’s Award during the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet Thursday at Cypress Bayou Casino. Nezat was honored for her tireless volunteerism with the Chamber. Presenting the award are Chamber President Donna Meyer and Chairman Bob Harrison. Two awards were presented in recognition of hospitality workers during the Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet Thursday at Cypress Bayou Casino. Cajun Coast Visitors & Convention Bureau Director Carrie Stansbury presented the awards to the family of the late Gay Nell Angeron as well as to Jamasian “Macy” Guy as Hospitality Employee of the Year. Angeron was a 40-year veteran of the hospitality industry, having worked at Shoney’s, Best Western and Holiday Inn. Her relatives Danny Donham, Brian Bailey and Casi Rogers accepted the award. Guy works at Cypress Bayou Casino as a barista at Fresh and waitress at Café Bayou. Stansbury said Guy “has an amazing work ethic and an amazing personality.” Stan Robison, right, accepts the Citizen of the Year award from Frank Fink, Chamber of Commerce board member, during the organization’s annual banquet Thursday at Cypress Bayou Casino. Robison has overseen the development of the Bayou Vista Community Center and the baseball parks, spray and water park, skate park and playgrounds and pavilions in Bayou Vista as chairman of the Recreation District 3 committee. He has held the position since 1993. Robison also has served as a commissioner, board member or appointee on the Waterworks District 2 board, Center of Hope, St. Mary Tourist Commission, Council on Aging, Home Rule Charter Review Committee and the Industrial Review Board. G&J Land and Marine Food Distributors of Morgan City received the Business of the Year award from the St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce. G&J, in operation since 1964, is a full-service supplier of groceries and janitorial supplies to the commercial shipping, offshore oil and gas, and the Gulf Coast petroleum industries. Accepting the award from Chamber Chairman Bob Harrison, far right, are company owners, from left, Erik Lind, Mike Lind and Cleve Boudreaux. Artists Guild Unlimited of Morgan City was presented with the Non-Profit of the Year award during the Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet. AGU operates a gallery and offers art classes and workshops throughout the year. It also provides scholarships to area graduates entering college to major in art. AGU President Diane Martin, right, accepts the award from Scott Berry, immediate past Chamber chairman. (Banner Tribune Photos)