BY MELINDA J. OVERSTREET
GLASGOW NEWS 1
Barren Inc. Barren County Chamber of Commerce announced on Thursday the recipients of three of its 2023 Achievement in Business Awards – Administrative Professional, Farmer, and Small Business of the Year.
The awards presentation was followed by keynote remarks by the Small Business Person of the Year and Magnolia Award recipient, who had been announced as honorees at a press conference in late March.
Lisa Beaty, left, receives the Administrative Professional of the Year award from Jami Sneed at the Barren Inc. Achievement in Business Awards luncheon on Thursday. MELINDA J. OVERSTREET / GLASGOW NEWS 1
Lisa Beaty, executive assistant at South Central Rural Telecommunications Cooperative, was presented with the Administrative Professional of the Year Award, which is intended “to recognize and celebrate the incredible contributions made by administrative professionals in today’s fast-paced and dynamic business world.”
The award represents someone who demonstrates outstanding performance, exceptional leadership and a commitment to excellence within their role, said Nash 103.7 radio personality Kellie McKay, who served as master of ceremonies for the luncheon program at Parkview Event Center attended by more than 150 people. Such individuals are often unsung heroes of the business world, she said.
Beaty has been employed with SCRTC many years, and “her unwavering commitment to achieve goals and her delivery of exceptional results have not gone unnoticed,” McKay said. “She has consistently gone above and beyond in her role and takes on new challenges and responsibilities with enthusiasm and grace. Her willingness to support her colleagues and share her expertise has created a culture of collaboration and teamwork that is truly admirable.”
Travis Hudnall accepts the Small Business of the Year award for Ely Drugs at the Barren Inc. Achievement in Business Awards luncheon on Thursday. MELINDA J. OVERSTREET / GLASGOW NEWS 1
In accepting the award, Beaty said it was “quite and honor and quite a surprise, but I appreciate it very much.”
Kenny and Beverly Mattingly were celebrated as Farmer of the Year. The couple started operations with a dairy farm that, in 1998, turned into a cheese-making facility. Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheeses has been growing ever since, with more than 20 varieties among the 9,000 to 10,000 pounds of cheese produced each month. In 2012, they expanded to add a new creamery with an additional cheese vat, a new packaging and shipping room with a loading dock, additional storage and aging rooms, and a retail store front, McKay said. After their existing dairy barn collapsed due to storm damage, the new version incorporated a robotic milking center with two Airbnb apartments upstairs.
Kenny Mattingly told the audience they were honored to receive the award, and he was thankful his parents had come to Barren County when he was 19 and for the opportunity to work with his patient, kindergarten-teacher wife and the rest of their team.
The Small Business of the Year Award was presented to Travis Hudnall from Ely Drugs.
The local pharmacy that has been in business for more than 90 years prides itself on providing quality products at economical prices and “has demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision and a commitment to excellence to the Barren County community,” McKay said.
Hudnall said he appreciated that Glasgow and Barren County take care of Ely, which takes a group of all-stars to run, and they meet every morning to discuss how they can better take care of Glasgow and Barren County, and they’ll continue to do that the best way they can.
A prerecorded keynote address by Beth Wagner, named Small Business Person of the Year by Barren Inc., is displayed on a monitor during the Barren Inc. Achievement in Business Awards luncheon on Thursday. MELINDA J. OVERSTREET / GLASGOW NEWS 1
Wagner, who, through her company Simple Life Properties has renovated multiple downtown buildings, creating Airbnb opportunities and paving the way for a cluster of new locally owned small businesses – Spring Valley Boutique, Local Roots and Sweet Basil Bake Shop & Mercantile – to sprout.
Wagner was out of town, but she had prerecorded a video, in which she said, “I’ve wanted to have my own business since I was little girl,” before sharing more about her journey to where she is today and to the partnership with her husband of 34 years Michael and their family.
The Magnolia Award recognizes outstanding professional women for their achievements and contributions to their communities.
Jannell Pedigo, this year’s recipient, has been in banking for 35 years and with South Central Bank since 2006. She’s been involved with Glasgow Rotary Club for more than 20 years and has served as a longtime board member for Community Medical Care.
She said she’d felt humbled and appreciative to have received the award.
“Glasgow and Barren County have so many amazing females that are definitely in the category,” Pedigo said.
Magnolia Award recipient Jannell Pedigo speaks during the Barren Inc. Achievement in Business Awards luncheon on Thursday. MELINDA J. OVERSTREET / GLASGOW NEWS 1
She spoke about what a pleasure it had been to be involved with Rotary and how she became involved with the mission of CMC, which was established in 2002 to assist Barren County’s low-income seniors and has evolved to add more services in the two decades since. Her tenure on the board of of the grassroots organization went from 2004 until 2021, and she took a seat again on its governing board in 2022 after CMC became a program of the T.J. Community Mission Foundation.
“I’m very blessed to work with such amazing organizations, plus all the friends and volunteers. We could not do this without any of you all …,” Pedigo said. “I’m especially fortunate to be considered part of the Glasgow-Barren County strong foundation of female leadership.”
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