Holloway Receives Chamber's Small Business Honor
June 7, 2012
By CASSIE COPE
Index-Journal
Greenwood, SC - Greenwood's small business community gathered to honor its leaders Wednesday during the annual Small Business Luncheon.
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The Greenwood Chamber of Commerce named Jon Holloway, owner of jon o. holloway photography, the 2012 Small Business Person of the Year.
Holloway renovated two buildings on Maxwell Avenue, which are now sundance gallery and Meridian Studios. He also created the Music on Maxwell concert series and Click646 photography exhibition.
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Jon Holloway received the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce’s 2012 Small Business Person of the Year award. Holloway owns sundance gallery and the Meridian in Uptown Greenwood. (Cassie Cope | Index-Journal) |
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His success jump-started revitalization efforts of Uptown Greenwood, said Jeff Smith, director of small business communications for the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce.
"It's exciting to see where we were and how far we've come in Greenwood in the past five years," Holloway said. "We're no longer asking, 'What if?'"
Laura Hester, an assistant professor of mass communication at Lander University, and Caroline Jenkins, a freelance photographer, nominated Holloway.
"He believes in the potential of Greenwood and is always ready to share his positive energy," Hester and Jenkins said in their nomination form. "His success reaches far beyond his photography."
Holloway said he was humbled to receive the award and to be among the people on the list of 22 previous recipients.
"I think in the short span of time hes been a businessman in Greenwood, he has had a huge impact," Smith said.
Another leader who has impacted the community was honored with the 2012 Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award.
Bruce White received the award for his work with the Food Bank of Greenwood County and previous work as a professor at Lander University.
White works at the food bank for about 120 days out of the year.
He works behind the scene ordering food, unloading pallets, stocking shelves and working wth a crew to distribute food.
Duke Energy wants the award to be given to someone for a lifetime of service instead of for a one-time event, Duke Energy District Manager Theo Lane said.
However, Duke Energy does not choose the recipent and the selection is performed by a committee created by the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce.
Michele Abraham, the state director for S.C. Small Business Development Center, spoke at the lunch and focused on issues small businesses face. She also described the qualities that make them thrive.
While big businesses are important anchors to an area, small businesses can drive a community, said Mickey Conway, a consultant for the Greenwood area Small Business Development Center.
"This is a very small-business driven community," Conway said.
146 Maxwell Avenue (prior to jon holloway's purchase in 2004)
146 Maxwell Avenue today
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