VALDOSTA — A spirit of robust commitment to meet the economic challenges facing the greater Valdosta Metropolitan Services Area prevailed among business, community and government leaders who attended the 96th Annual Dinner Meeting of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center Tuesday night.

Chamber officials touted their achievements during 2007, most notably the successful launch of their ambitious Impact 2012 campaign. They handed out a prestigious annual award to the leaders of that campaign, and named officers for the 2008 calendar year during the gala that was attended by a who’s who of local business and government leaders.

After an entertaining swath of humor dished up by guest speaker Len Robbins, editor and publisher of the Clinch County News and the Echols County Echo, Chamber President Myrna Ballard announced the recipient of the A.L. Girardin Award, an award the Chamber’s administrative staff has given each year since 1975 to the person who has been particularly helpful to the chamber during the past year.

In the case of the 2007 year, the staff decided that the Girardin Award would most definitely have to go to more than one person.

“It was a two-minute conversation,” Ballard said. “We knew who deserved the award right away.”

Ballard then called up the 10 leaders of the Impact 2012 Campaign as the recipients. They include David Durland, Bill DeCoudres, Terri Lupo, Stan Fillion, Chuck Roberts, Paul Nichols, Jud Rackley, Darrell Wilder, James McGahee and Jeff Hanson.

Impact 2012 is an ambitious, five-year business development action plan that to date has accrued an investment of $2.3 million from 126 contributors from local businesses, individuals and local governments that Chamber officials hope will enhance workforce development, expand targeted businesses, create higher paying jobs, enhance small business development, attract amenity-seeking retirees and more. A local economist estimates that if successful, Impact 2012 will have an annual economic impact of $95 million and will create 1,350 new jobs.

“It’s because of this group and a lot of other volunteers who put in tons of time and effort that this campaign has been successful,” said David Durland. “We were able to accomplish things that I thought at first, were a little too far reaching.”

Outgoing Chairman Nick Valenti introduced the Chamber’s executive committee officers for 2008, including new Chairman Walter Hobgood, who owns Express Personnel Services at 1712 Gornto Road.

The new officers, who were sworn in by Judge H. Arthur McLane, include: Jeff Hanson, chairman-elect and vice chairman for the Chamber’s Business Expansion Division; David Newbern, vice chairman for Member Services Division; Terri Lupo, vice chair for Economic Development Division; Tom Gooding, vice chairman for Public Affairs Division; Tim Jones, vice chairman for Workforce Development and Education Division; and Paul Nichols, treasurer.

Hobgood offered his first speech as chairman of the Chamber. He said he and wife Gail were hesitant to move to Valdosta, a small town, after having lived in large cities around the world. The couple hail from St. Louis, Mo.

“We made the decision to give it a try, and, somewhat to our surprise, experienced a vibrant, active, diverse, caring and growing community,” Hobgood said. “We were warmly welcomed at work, at church, by neighbors, and the community in general. It did not take long to get fully integrated into social, charitable and community activities.”

In 2004 the Hobgoods faced a decision on whether to return to St. Louis.

“In the end we decided this is where we wanted to stay,” Hobgood said. “Why would we want to go back to a big city? This is our home. And, our story is not unique. Looking around the room I can see there are a number of other stories similar to ours.”

Valenti offered a summary of the Chamber’s 2007 numerous achievements. Membership has swelled to 1,521 members. Impact 2012 quickly exceeded its goal to collect pledges and contributions of $1.75 million to the more than $2.3 million total as of today, Valenti noted.

The Drugs Don’t Work program continues to expand regionally among partner chambers in surrounding counties. The program provides companies with the tools and assistance needed to implement and maintain a certified drug-free workplace program, which helps participating companies save as much as 7.5 percent on Workers Comp insurance premiums, Valenti said.

In 2007, some 465 clients from around the region were helped with free resources and assistance provided by the Chambers SEEDS Center (Sowing Entrepreneur and Economic Development Success), Valenti said.

The Chamber also was very active in promoting pro-business legislation in the 2007 state Legislative session in Atlanta, including a sales tax exemption on energy used in manufacturing, a sales tax holiday and sales and use tax exemptions for certain alternative fuel facilities. In addition to those issues, the Chamber plans to lobby the Legislature for affordable health insurance, tax reform, alternative energy sources, water issues, a state tax exemption on passive retirement income and protection of business owners’ property rights in 2008, he said.

“This Chamber is engaged in a number of substantiative and valuable investments,” Valenti said. “We in business need a voice. This Chamber provides us that voice.”