Special Recognitions

2024 Outstanding Business Person Of The Year & 2024 Outstanding Citizen Of The Year
Click Here For Nomination Ballot – Deadline April 28, 2024 


The Chincoteague Chamber Of Commerce Proudly Honors The 2023 Leonard “Buddy” Burton Outstanding Business Person Of The Year

The Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce 2023 Leonard "Buddy" Burton Business Person of the Year Award was presented to John H. "Jack" Tarr. Jack has given tirelessly to the betterment of Chincoteague Island. He has served on numerous boards and committees, while at the same time lending his expertise to operating his own small business. He has been a successful, respected business person for over 30 years and served over 20 years on Town Council and as Mayor, balancing committee meetings with running a business and honoring family commitments. He has served on the chamber board since 2017. His accomplishments are readily seen around our community and make up the very charm that draws our residents to reside here and our visitors to visit. Giving back to his community has always been a priority and you will often find Jack volunteering at local events and fundraisers. He is highly respected by his business peers and citizens of the island. “When challenged with health issues requiring daily treatments, he has continued to work, providing his expertise to his company, to get the job done, no matter how he felt physically” was mentioned in his nomination ballot as a strong testament to his work ethic and dedication.


The Chincoteague Chamber Of Commerce Proudly Honors The 2023 John White Shields Outstanding Citizens Of The Year

The Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce 2023 John White Shields Citizen of the Year Award was presented posthumously to Alex Hubb. For a number of years, Mr. Hubb served as transportation director for the Pony Express Trolley. In 2014, he became involved in the Chincoteague Cultural Alliance and soon formed the Chincoteague Farmers Market which later incorporated local artisans and became the Farmers & Artisans Market. Alex and his team of volunteers nurtured and grew the event to be the premier market on the Eastern Shore of Virginia with folks coming from neighboring states to sample fresh produce or purchase local handmade crafts made by talented artisans. All the while, Alex shared his love for the island with energy and enthusiasm to visitors and residents. He was dedicated to other Cultural Alliance programs, such as Island Coffeehouse and Music at the Dock. A nomination ballot sums up why he was chosen, “Mr. Hubb’s kindness, dedication, leadership, hard work and accomplishments have made Chincoteague Island an even better place to live and to visit.”



PRESS RELEASE – Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce Announces 2023 Business Person & Citizen of the Year


PAST AWARDEES FOR LEONARD “BUDDY” BURTON
OUTSTANDING BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

JAMES BOTT – 1990
BILL JONES – 1991
NANCY CONKLIN – 1992
GARY MASON – 1993
KELLY CONKLIN – 1994
DONALD LEONARD – 1995
MIKE McGEE – 1996
WESLEY McDONALD – 1997
JEAN CLARK – 1998
SCOTT CHESSON – 1999
DIANE WATSON – 2000
BOBBY PARKS – 2001
WANDA J. THORNTON – 2002
CHRIS BOTT – 2003
KEVIN KROME & STEVE POTTS – 2004
GEORGE KATSETOS – 2005
RUSSELL & MARTHA EVERET – 2006
MICHAEL T. TOLBERT – 2007
WAYNE & KAY MADDOX – 2008
TOMMY CLARK – 2009
GERRY & LINDA RYAN – 2010
KENNY & MARY BURTON – 2011
TED L. LEWIS – 2012
SUZANNE TAYLOR – 2013
RICHARD CONKLIN – 2014
TOM DERRICKSON – 2015
TOMMY & DONNA MASON – 2016
ROBERT CONNER – 2017
DENISE & RITCHIE CONKLIN – 2018
JEANNIE ROSE – 2019
SUE JOHNSON – 2020
BRYAN RUSH – 2021
RICK WATSON – 2022
JOHN H. "JACK" TARR - 2023


PAST AWARDEES FOR JOHN WHITE SHIELDS
OUTSTANDING CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

OLLIE REED – 1990
JAMES RUSSELL – 1991
ANNE WHEALTON – 1992
SHERMAN DAISEY – 1993
DONALD AMRIEN – 1994
J.W. JEFFRIES – 1995
FRED TOLBERT – 1996
OLLIE REED – 1997
FRANCES TURNER – 1998
MARIANNE WHITE – 1999
VERNON MERRITT – 2000
KATHRYN TOLBERT – 2001
JOHN H. (JACK) TARR – 2002
JOHN GRAHAM – 2003
WILLIAM T. MCCOMB, SR. – 2004
NATHAN B. CLARK – 2005
TERRY HOWARD – 2006
HAROLD L. BRASURE – 2007
BARBARA MASON – 2008
ELLEN RICHARDSON – 2009
EVELYN SHOTWELL – 2010
ANNE DAVIS – 2011
EDWARD W. LEWIS, JR. – 2012
JILLIAN POOLE – 2013
WAYNE TOLBERT – 2014
SHERRY TARR – 2015
NANCY LANE – 2016
DENISE BOWDEN – 2017
BILL SPANN – 2018
GARY MASON – 2019
VALERIE TOLBERT – 2020
BILL & FRAN LYTLE – 2021
BILLIE ANN BOWDEN – 2022
ALEX HUBB - 2023