Annual Awards 2025

On behalf of the West Monroe West Ouachita Chamber, we invite you to submit a nomination for our annual awards. Each year the Chamber presents two awards at our Annual Meeting. This is our opportunity as a community to highlight those making true change. That recognition delivers lasting legacy to future generations looking for positive role models, mentor leaders, and first person inspiration narratives to persevere. More often than not, these awards provide opportunity to shed light on unsung heroes in our community at the same time we can express our pride in the community we serve.

For these and many other reasons, we encourage you to consider someone in your circle for one of these 3 major awards given at our annual awards on December 9th, 2025. The 3 awards are:

• The AO Evans Award recognizes one individual each year for a long-term legacy of outstanding contributions to the West Monroe and West Ouachita community. The person cannot be an elected official who currently holds office, nor can they be on the West Monroe-West Ouachita Chamber Board of Directors. The submission should include several examples of specific contributions to the betterment of the community made by the nominee.

• The Johnny E. Huntsman Entrepreneurial Success Award.   This award honors a current WMWO Chamber business member or individual member that exemplifies the true entrepreneurial spirit, using these three main areas:

1. 1. Employees — this company or individual will have employees that understand that it takes hard work, dedication and loyalty for their company to succeed.
   2. Management Style — this company will understand their managers must prepare their employees for success and reward them when they succeed.
   3. An entrepreneurial spirit — an internal company spirit that fosters growth, loyalty and a deep desire to succeed.

• The Bert Hatten Community Impact Award. The Chamber recognizes that many public servants, non-profit leaders and engaged community members leave profound and lasting impacts on our community aligning with the mission of the Chamber that are not eligible for other awards given by the Chamber. This award seeks to recognize local community leaders that through the actions of their work and community service have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and a legacy of profound and lasting impact to our community in the areas of:
  1. education and workforce development,
  2. promotion and development of the business community,
  3. increasing the quality of life for all that live in Ouachita and surrounding parishes.