The Soutpansberg Chamber of Commerce in Louis Trichardt will be hosting its prestigious annual gala evening once again, this time on Saturday, 17 September.

As in previous years, the gala evening will coincide with the chamber’s annual Business Person of the Year Award ceremony. Apart from this sought-after award, awards will also be given in several other categories. At present, the chamber is looking for nominees for these awards and has invited the public to nominate suitable candidates. Nominations with recommendations must be sent to Dodrie Corbett at [email protected] before 17 August at 16:00.

The categories and their criteria are:

* Local Business Person of the Year: This must be a person of good standing and high moral principle, one who is well respected by all his/her peers;

* Entrepreneur/Upcoming Business of the Year: Relatively new business, non-franchise, should involve a new idea, new concept, new product or service and owner younger than 40 years;

* Corporate Manager of the Year: This person must be heading a corporate institution or division within a corporate company;

* Tourism Salt Shaker of the Year: The tourism operator and personality who contributed the most to developing and promoting tourism in our area.

Apart from the above awards, certificates will also be handed out. These merit certificates are:

* Merit Certificate for Outstanding Service to the Community: This is an open category where nominations may include any member working in our community that distinguished themselves in rendering services of exceptional standard to the benefit of all members of our community;

* General ‘Performer of the Year’ Certificate: Open nomination, recipient should not necessarily be linked to any business enterprise or public service office; and

* Secretary/Receptionist of the Year Certificate: This person will have made the right impression on the client, rather than his/her office manager.