Jamaica Tourist Board Sponsors Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet

ATLANTA, GA – The Jamaican Chamber of Commerce of Atlanta held its annual JamCham Awards Banquet in April at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center in Atlanta. Each year the event acknowledges and celebrates notable members who serve the community with distinction. This year, the event was sponsored by the Jamaica Tourist Board along with Panton Equity Partners, The Best Dressed Chicken, St. Regis, Metals & Materials Engineers (MME), Vertical Capital Advisors, Bak Foods, Chef Rob’s Caribbean Café & Upscale Lounge, Merrill Lynch, Stone Oak Lounge (Mortgage) and Sandals Resorts.

(L-R): Dr. Elaine Bryan, Jamaica Honorary Consul in Atlanta; Copland Comrie, Person of the Year; Dr. Yvonne Smith, Atlanta Montego Bay Sister Cities Committee for Business Community Service; The Most Honorable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica; Jeanette Proprietor HoSang, Royal Caribbean Bakery, Business of the Year; Her Excellency Audrey Marks, Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States of America; Dr. Vincent HoSang, President & CEO Royal Caribbean Bakery, Business of the Year and Oliver Mair, Jamaica’s Consul General in Miami.Prime Minister of Jamaica, The Most Honorable Andrew Holness, was the evening’s guest speaker. This was Mr. Holness’ first visit to the Georgia capital city as Prime Minister.

“It was an honor to address Atlanta’s most notable members who have contributed so much to the community,” says Prime Minister Holness. “The diaspora has always been and continues to be a key partner in working to improve the needs of Jamaicans through outreach programs, philanthropy and local efforts in promoting the destination.”

Award recipients included Royal Caribbean Bakery for “Business of the Year” and Dr. Yvonne Smith of Atlanta Montego Bay Sister Cities for “Business Community Service.” Copeland Comrie received the award for “Person of the Year,” an award in honor of the late philanthropist, Jamaican-born Lowell Hawthorne, CEO and Founder, Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill.

The Atlanta-based JamCham seeks to address key concerns and issues within the Jamaican-American business community and the larger Caribbean community in the area. The group also provides opportunities for networking, personal and professional development and a cohesive voice in local decision-making and affairs.