Mardi Gras came to Pilot Point on Saturday evening as the Pilot Point Chamber of Commerce celebrated its award-winning members at a glittering gala.
Chamber President Jimerson Adkins welcomed the crowd to the celebration.
'Tonight, we celebrate our community's hardworking compass, our business community and all of our wonderful volunteers,' he said. 'Each of our award recipients exemplifies values and admirable qualities that have advanced Pilot Point to be such a strong community.'
'This year’s winning nonprofit has been a driving force in the Pilot Point community for over 30 years, supporting the hopes and dreams of generations of Pilot Point ISD students and teachers,' Adkins said about the Pilot Point Educational Foundation winning Nonprofit of the Year.
PPEF President Lee Ann Ray represented the organization at the gala.
'It's about the whole board, and we are very honored to be a part of the community and be able to raise the funds that we've raised to give back to the school, to the teachers and the students,' she said. 'I'm thrilled.'
The Original Windmill Ceiling Fan and Lighting Co. and Ranch & Co Interiors won New Business of the Year.
'This business owner 'attracts people who might not normally visit our town,' Adkins said. ''The ranch interior style furniture is a true statement and representation of the culture in Pilot Point. In the short time she has been open, she has hosted events and participated in the community events with excitement. I am so happy she chose Pilot Point to open her storefront,' one nomination read.'
That choice was an intentional one, owner Kelly Eggers said.
'We've said from the very beginning that we knew we had to have a special place to open,' she said. 'We've been in business for 12 years, and we really waited for the right space, so we're very proud to be a part of the Pilot Point community and on the Square.'
She also bragged on her staff.
'… With the team that I have, really, we can do anything,' Eggers said.
A Pilot Point staple, Nick's Italian Restaurant, took home the award for Business of the Year.
'When you step into this business, you are treated like family,' Adkins said. 'The family who runs it takes the time to not only circle the dining room but to also provide service and care for all who fill their tables and booths.'
When they heard their business' name, Nerim 'Nick' Vraniqi jumped up and Misty Vraniqi beamed.
' All the hard work my wife and I put into Pilot Point all these 20 years being recognized is great, but seeing everybody every day is what really means the most to us,' Nick said. The relationships we've built with people— it's too long of a list to name, but it's an honor.'
Being recognized for their work in Pilot Point means the world to Misty.
'This is home,' she said.
One of the annual awards, Distinguished Citizen of the Year, will be announced later in the year, Adkins said.
The Lake Ray Roberts Rotary Club, represented by Chad Major, a Rotarian and Pilot Point mayor, honored a firefighter of the year, Assistant Chief Bryan Cox, and a police officer of the year, Sgt. Leah Wilson.
'This department leader has been a cornerstone of the department's modernization, spearheading critical apparatus upgrades and personnel initiatives,' Major read about Cox. 'His impact is evident through several high-profile projects that have enhanced the department's capabilities.
Cox was grateful for the award but turned the praise to his team instead.
'My guys probably deserve recognition more than I do, but I appreciate Chief [Heath] Hudson recognizing what I do every day in supporting the organization and trying to move the organization forward,' he said.
Major shared the nomination the Rotary received about Wilson as well.
'This officer is not only an invaluable asset to the Pilot Point Police Department but also a model of commitment and leadership,' Major read about Wilson. 'Their work has strengthened our ability to meet operational standards, align with departmental expectations, and establish a reputation that attracts the most qualified candidates.
'It just shows that hard work … gets recognized,' Wilson said.
She also extended her gratitude to Chief Angela Mathews for her support.
'I'm so blessed to serve this community, and I look forward to doing it much more many, many more years,' Wilson said.
Nerim 'Nick' Vraniqi holds up the Business of the Year award he and his family received for Nick's Italian Restaurant as Chamber Executive Director Evon Lusk, left, President Jimerson Adkins and Secretary Texas Tammy Francois look on.
Photos by Abigail Bardwell/ The Post-Signal
Sgt. Leah Wilson gives Pilot Point Mayor Chad Major a hug after he named her as the Lake Ray Roberts Rotary Club's Pilot Point Police Officer of the Year on Saturday.
