Flagler County Chamber installs real estate broker and Navy veteran Jimmy Millhollin as new chairman

Palm Coast Observer
News

The theme of red, white and blue was an easy choice for the theme to the 2017 Flagler County Chamber of Commerce Installation Banquet: Jimmy Millhollin, who was installed as the new chairman, is a Navy veteran who has always had a great love for his country.

He has seen the war-torn countries of the world, he said, but "whenever I saw the American flag, I felt safe and secure."

As owner of the RE/MAX Flagstaff office in Palm Coast, he and his wife of more than 25 years, fellow Navy veteran Annette Gardinal, also use the flag in their business: Their slogan is, "Proud to have served our country, proud to serve you."

Millhollin was sworn in for a one-year term to lead the volunteer board, at the Jan. 27 event at Hammock Beach Resort. In the same meeting, Rebecca DeLorenzo, who was hired in 2007 and became president of the organization in 2013, was emotional as she said goodbye: She will leave the chamber and join the Red Cross next month.

Past chairman Donald O'Brien, who is now a county commissioner, introduced Millhollin. "In my world," O'Brien said, "there is no Jimmy Millhollin, there's Jimmy and Annette. So we're lucky: We get the team." He called Millhollin a "first-class gentleman."

In his acceptance speech, Millhollin praised the chamber's successful traditions and said he would also look for new opportunities, including a military appreciation breakfast. He said it would be appropriate, considering there are about 12,000 veterans among Flagler County's 100,000 residents.

Millhollin's priorities for the next year will be community, communication and collaboration.

"There's no looking back," he said. "I hope you will all join me in embracing the change before us and working side by side to create opportunity to drive our success."

Award winners

The following awards were announced at the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce's 2017 Installation Banquet:

Diplomat of the Year: Mike Richards with Vector Security
Most Innovative Product/Service: Flagler Humane Society. Our most innovative service/product award winner was inspired by a 7-year-old obese Australian Shepard mix named Zeus, whose parents could no longer afford his treatments. And, so the Flagler Humane Society’s Wellness Clinic, where pet parents can bring their family members for low-cost vet exams and treatments, was created.
Excellence in Customer Service: Vystar Credit Union. This business created a six-step process to incorporate customer service into their corporate culture.
Most innovative Marketing Campaign: Intracoastal Bank, for the campaign, "Invested, Innovative, Inspired."
2016 Emerging Business of the Year: Channel Side. Seeing a gap in “luxury event space,” two Palm Coast residents purchased the landmark Palm Coast Yacht Club and then proceeded to completely makeover the event space.
Small Business of the Year: Palm Coast and the Beaches Real Estate. The judges said, "This applicant not only shows successful business growth year over year, but the attention to community service stands out and kicks them up a notch.” Their mark on the community is evident from their “real life” visiting rooms at the Flagler Humane Society to a butterfly garden at the Family Life Center.
2016 Large Business of the Year: S.E. Cline Construction. This winner just celebrated its 20-year anniversary and currently has 60 employees. It has weathered the storm and shown substantial healthy gains over the last two years.