CHAMBER GALA
The 78 th Annual Chamber Gala
A Night of Elegance and Celebration By Hayli Zuccola
On March 7, a record-breaking 318 guests gathered at Camp Weed & Cerveny Conference Center for the 78th Annual Suwannee Chamber Gala Celebration, presented by First Federal Bank. The Monopoly-inspired“ Suwanneeopoly” theme, brought to life by Epic Events and Design, transformed the venue as guests mixed and mingled over hors d’ oeuvres sponsored by RIVEROAK Technical College and cocktails courtesy of Elite Industrial before the evening officially began.
Following a welcome from chamber leadership, retiring board members were recognized, the Board Member of the Year was announced and new board members were introduced. Dinner and dessert by 11th Street Kitchen gave attendees time to browse eight AMFund silent auction travel packages or stop by the Busy Bee-sponsored photo booth before the evening concluded with entertainment from DJ Saltlife, sponsored by
The Glass and Canopy. The gala also celebrated the graduation of the 2025-26 Leadership Suwannee class. Hosted every two years by the Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce, the program brings together emerging and established leaders for behind-thescenes tours, hands-on experiences and conversations with local decision-makers, providing participants with a deeper understanding of the industries, infrastructure, education, health care, public safety and economic drivers that shape Suwannee County.
Before the night came to a close, guests learned the names behind the gala’ s biggest mystery: the 2025 Trailblazer and Citizen of the Year.
First presented in 1981, the Trailblazer of the Year Award recognizes an individual whose leadership, service and vision leave a lasting impact on Suwannee County. This year’ s recipient, Erika Leak, founder of LeTina’ s Language of LOVE Ministries Inc., was honored for her unwavering commitment
126 SUWANNEE CHAMBER IMPACT | 2026-2027