The Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce is busy making final prepara-tions for its 18th Annual Meeting and Gala to be held January 17, 2004 at The Colonnade in Ringgold.

The upcoming black-tie event is themed “Masquerade Ball 2004” and will include the Chamber’s annual ‘passing of the gavel’ and outstanding small business awards ceremony. A reception will be held at 6:30 p.m. with a program, dining and dancing to follow at 7 p.m.

One of the evening’s highlights will turn to Scott Smith, 2003 Chairman of the Board, as he passes the gavel to Danny Flowers, 2004 Chairman of the Board.

Smith serves as a commercial lender and vice president of retail services at Northwest Georgia Bank. He worked as an associate examiner for the Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta for three years prior to joining Northwest Georgia Bank. A Catoosa County native, he graduated from Ringgold High School and earned a master’s degree in financial institution management from Georgia State University. Smith is a member of the Georgia Bankers Association and the Catoosa County Economic Development Authority, and is past president of the Ringgold Rotary Club. He is married to the former Melanie McBride, and they have two sons, Colton and Carter.

Flowers is president of Capital Bank. Prior to joining the bank in 1999, he served in various capacities with banks in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Flowers is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and has worked in banking since 1972. He is also a graduate of the National Commercial Lending School and the National Commercial Lending Graduate School at the University of Oklahoma. Being very involved in the Catoosa community, Flowers serves on the boards of several civic and volunteer organizations. He is married to the former Barbara McCord, and they have two daughters — Ashley, a Ringgold High School student, and Danielle who lives in Atlanta.

The Chamber will also recognize Outstanding Small Businesses in Catoosa County in four different categories, including 1-5 employees, 6-15 employees, 16-50 employees and 50-100 employees. Winners are selected by the Chairman’s Advisory Council among a list of nominations presented and are determined by proven growth, innovativeness of product or service, and outstanding contributions to community-oriented projects.

Reservations for Masquerade Ball 2004 are now being accepted. Cost is $60 per person, or $475 for a corporate table of eight. Reservations will be accepted until Jan. 9.



The Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce has over 400 members and is proud to be the leading voice of businesses in Catoosa County and the surrounding region. For more information, contact the Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce at 965-5201.

Submitted by Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce.