The Pike County Chamber of Commerce recognized seven chamber businesses and organizations for outstanding achievement and service at its 2015 Annual Banquet Wednesday at Troy Country Club.

First National Bank of Brundidge and Troy was honored as the Chamber’s 2015 Business of the Year.

Mark Hayes, chamber board 3rd vice-chairman, presented Awards of Excellence to Chicken Salad Chic for Hospitality, Leisure and Retail Service; SARAH for Health and Human Service; Lockheed Martin for Manufacturing, Industrial and Logistical Service; Cervera, Ralph, Reeves, Baker, Haistings for Commercial, Professional Business Service; Troy Junior Women’s League for Philanthropy through Non-Profit Organizations; and Jones Medical Supply for Customer Service.

The keynote speaker for the Annual Banquet was Captain Alan W. Price, founder of Falcon Leadership.

Price has worked with clients involving topics relating to leadership development, strategic planning, safety systems, communications and team development.

His initial advice to Chamber members, when working with employees, was, first, to thank them for doing their jobs. Secondly, to share their insight and wisdom with them, and to be mentors through success and failures.

“We all make mistakes,” Price said. “It’s okay to fail if we learn from those mistakes and grow from them. We need to know, too, that it is okay to speak out.”

Price said often a member of a team knows or expects a wrongful outcome but fails to speak out for fear no one will listen or they will be “cut off at the knees.”

“The best decisions are made in team situations and communication is the arterial component,” he said. “In all situations, look at the operative standard of where you ought to be.”

Price said the keys to success are to be a life-long learner, to know it’s okay to fail if you learn from the experience and to continually move forward.

“And, you should never pass up an opportunity to get better at what you do. If you do not improve, you are going backward,” he said.

Kathleen Sauer, Chamber president, said Price provided valuable information on how to move forward in the business world.

“He gave us good, solid information that was specific to employees and customers,” she said. “Good business is always about the people – your employees and your customers. He also gave us valuable information on ways to keep our business community in the forefront. The Pike County Chamber of Commerce is dedicated and committed to forward movement.”

The mission of the chamber is to serve as a leader and catalyst in planning, promoting and supporting programs and services that foster a favorable business climate and improve the quality of life for Pike County.