Sales & Marketing Professionals-Pine Belt (SMP) has announced the winners from among the 24 regional finalists for the 2019 Pinnacle Awards. The awards gala was held Tuesday evening, March 19 in Hattiesburg. The annual awards recognize, promote and honor excellence, professionalism and outstanding achievement in sales and marketing in The Pine Belt.
The Jones County Chamber of Commerce was named the 2019 Pinnacle Award winner. The Chamber is responsible for promoting members, professional development, and tourism. In 2018, the team created multiple logos now associated with both new and existing programs. Through social media, new graphics, and programs, they successfully promoted nearly 200 members.
Shawn Harris was named the Bud Kirkpatrick Outstanding Professional. Working in the financial services industry for 13 years, Harris serves as Vice President and Commercial Banking Relationship Manager at Regions Bank. During his time at Regions, he executed a Strategic Payment Partnership with a Hattiesburg-based ePayablescompany, the first of its kind for Regions Bank. The process took over a year and hundreds of man-hours across several layers of senior and executive level leadership to negotiate the transaction and secure the agreement. The success earned Harris, for the second time in five years, Regions Chairman’s Club recognition-representing the top 10% of sales and service performance within the Commercial Banking line of business in the company. Outside of Regions, Harris is always selling Hattiesburg to his peers and is actively involved in numerous organizations throughout the Hub City.
The Charlie Holt Outstanding Business Award went to Hattiesburg Coca-Cola. Hattiesburg Coca-Cola proudly supports numerous community events throughout the year. In 2018, Hattiesburg Coca-Cola participated in more than 100 marketing opportunities through organizations in the Pine Belt. Though they partner with many local schools through PowerAde promotions, West Marion softball team was awarded $10,000 from Powerade and Hattiesburg Coca-Cola. Hattiesburg Coca-Cola cross markets all events they support to reach more people and give back to their partner organizations.
This year, the awards were dedicated to the late Bud Kirkpatrick and the late Charlie Holt, SMP members who were recently honored with resolutions for exceptional public relations work by the Mississippi Legislature. The Pinnacle Awards traditionally bear the names of these two marketing icons.