Annual Business Awards & Seaside Soirée

The 2026 Annual Business Awards & Seaside Soirée took place on March 24th, 2026 at 21 Main Events at North Beach. Congratulations to the recipients of the Business Awards.

Below you can view all the nominees for this year, with the award finalists in green.

Catalyst Award for Outstanding Community Service - Individual
Rising Star Award

 

Ambassador of the Year

Senator Dick Elliott Excellence in Leadership Award

Valor Award

The City of North Myrtle Beach Police and Fire Rescue are invited to honor recipients of the Valor Award.

North Myrtle Beach Police submitted Sergeant Chris Bellamy for his leadership in rescuing a young passenger from a golf cart that was partially submerged and on its side in three feet of water. Sergeant Bellamy is credited for his keen awareness and quick actions, that helped to save a precious life. The young boy had been submerged underwater for approximately four minutes before Sergeant Bellamy freed him from the wreckage.

Sergeant Bellamy’s calm leadership and steadfast actions most assuredly saved a life.

North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue submitted six individuals for this honor. Last year, A-Battalion crews were dispatched for a water rescue incident with reports of multiple victims caught in a rip current off of the Point in Cherry Grove. Rescue Swimmers from Fire Department and Police Department entered into the ocean and began working to bring the distressed swimmers who were unable to work their way back to shore. Without the actions of Fire Department and Police Department personnel on this day, there is no doubt lives would have been lost. These individuals deserve to be recognized for their level of performance on this day.

Lieutenant Chris Walden
FF/EMT Robert Villalobos
FF/EMT John Gore
Lieutenant Chris Nadelman
Engineer Brian Koontz
Master Police Officer Kayla Wallace

03 17 26 Soiree Sponsors

Previous recipients of each award as well as highlights from our 2026 Seaside Soirée can be viewed below.

Small Business of the Year Award

Awarded to an investor/partner of Destination North Myrtle Beach, with fewer than 50 employees and not part of a franchise, for their demonstrated growth in our community workforce and revenue. The honoree will have demonstrated its ability to thrive in the community and contributes their time and resources to make North Myrtle Beach a great place to work, live, and visit.

2026: United Community

2025: MEDcare Urgent Care

2024: Philomena's Catering Co.

2023: Roca Roja Cantina

2022: Ella's Ice Cream

2021: Daniello's Pizzerio & Pub 

2020: Callie Wise - State Farm Insurance Agent 

2019: Wholesale Flooring Company 

2018: Sea -Server LLC.  

Mid-Size Business of the Year

Awarded to an investor/partner of Destination North Myrtle Beach, with 51-200 employees and may be part of a franchise, for their demonstrated significant presence in the North Myrtle Beach community. The honoree should be recognized locally and regionally by their respective business sector, while demonstrating leadership in their sector. Honorees should provide leadership in local boards and commissions, contributing their time and resources to make North Myrtle Beach a great place to work, live, and visit.

Large Business of the Year

Awarded to an investor/partner of Destination North Myrtle Beach, with 201+ employees and may be a part of a franchise, for their demonstrated significant presence in the North Myrtle Beach community. They should be headquartered in the community, or with a significant presence in North Myrtle Beach. Nominees will have shown remarkable growth and stability and be recognized locally and regionally by their respective business sector, while also demonstrating leadership in their sector. Honorees should provide leadership in local boards and commissions, contributing their time and resources to make North Myrtle Beach a great place to work, live, and visit.

New Business of the Year

Awarded to the new business and Destination North Myrtle Beach investor/partner that has demonstrated success within the first 12 months of opening their business in North Myrtle Beach. Nominees should have built a reputation for quality products or services as well as customer service and began by actively participating in the community.

2026: Greg Rowles Legacy Theatre

2025: Crave Italian Oven & Bar

2024: Cha House North Myrtle Beach

2023: Dagwood's Deli & Sports Bar - North Myrtle Beach

2022: Wine Therapy

2021: Mobile Urgent Care  

2020: Ella's Ice Cream

2018: Melt Ice Cream 

Non-Profit Of The Year

Awarded to a 501(c)3 charitable organization and Destination North Myrtle Beach investor/partner for its community outreach and excellence in fundraising to improve the quality of life of North Myrtle Beach and/or assist a specific group to fulfill specific needs. Nominees will demonstrate a clear impact on the lives of people in North Myrtle Beach. The honoree is an investor/partner of Destination North Myrtle Beach.

Impact Award for Excellence in Customer Service

Awarded to an investor/partner of Destination North Myrtle Beach for the impact of their customer services. Nominees will demonstrate customer reviews and overall ratings that show they are impacting the reputation of the greater community by taking care of their customers. Honorees will have testimonials about the experience they had with the said business.

Catalyst Award For Outstanding Community Service

Awarded to an investor/partner of Destination North Myrtle Beach for outstanding community service. The nominee, either an individual or an organization, will demonstrate the multiple opportunities to serve the community which are made accessible and celebrated throughout their organization. This includes leadership in local clubs, boards, and commissions. The Honoree will have demonstrated their involvement in addressing an issue, challenge, or opportunity to make North Myrtle Beach a better place to live, work, and visit.

2026 Business: Bay Watch Resort & Conference Center

2026 Individual: Mark Lane (Sand Dollar Media)

2025 Business: Elliott Beach Rentals

2025 Individual: Kim Kelley (Barefoot Landing)

2024 Business: Sand Dollar Media

2024 Individual: Stephanie Chestnut (Bay Watch Resort & Conference Center)

2023: Barefoot Landing

2022: Callie Wise-State Farm

2021: Chick-fil-a North Myrtle Beach

2020: Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach

2019: Myrtle Beach Pelicans 

2018: Tidelands Health

Rising Star Award

The Rising Star is someone who works for an investor/partner of Destination North Myrtle Beach as an employee, manager, and/or owner who is 40 years or younger. The nominee will have demonstrated an ability to contribute their time and talents to their business sector and the community.

2026: Jamesha Gore-Coggin - State Farm

2025: Robert Beatty - Anderson Brothers Bank

2024: Lindsey Winner - United Community

2022: Corey Richardson - Carolina Property Specialist

2022: Alex Husner - Condo World

2021: Alexia Edge - Ripley's Aquarium Myrtle Beach 

2019: Benjamin Clyburn - Condo World 

 

Senator Dick Elliott Excellence in Leadership Award

The Senator Dick Elliott Excellence in Leadership Award is in the name of Dick Elliot, an individual and community leader who epitomized what it means to be a leader, for his family, for his community, and for a lifetime of exceptional dedicated service to the city of North Myrtle Beach and the State of South Carolina.

Dick Elliott always met the challenges life had in store. For over three decades, whether as a businessman, councilman, state representative, or state senator, Dick Elliott served the people of South Carolina with honor and dignity. He left an indelible mark on our community and state. Few have reached the level of personal and professional success that Dick Elliott has achieved during his lifetime.

Dick Elliott was a dedicated husband, father, businessman, and public servant driven to making this community and state a better place.

Each year, the Senator Dick Elliott Excellence in Leadership Award will be presented to the individual who best exemplifies the leadership qualities, character, and dedication to selfless service that Dick Elliott epitomized during his life. As has been the custom of the chamber, the board chair selects this award recipient.

2026: Ed Horton - Anderson Brothers Bank

2025: Frank & Elizabeth Boulineau - Boulineau's IGA Foods Plus

2024: Society of Stranders

2023: Harold Worley - Ocean Drive Beach & Golf Resort

2022: Rayford Vereen

*Previously titled NMB Chairman's Award*

2021: Jeri McCumbee- MedCare Urgent Care 

2019: Mendel Bell - Touch MedSpa

2018: Ricky Martin - Martin Heat and Air 

 

Ambassador of the Year

This individual exemplifies the characteristics sought for all Ambassadors; enthusiasm, sincerity, and the ability to represent our organization and community on a peer-to-peer basis. This award is voted upon solely by the Destination NMB Ambassadors. If you are interested in becoming an ambassador for Destination NMB, visit this page.

2026: Allyson Sturgeon - New York Life Insurance Company

2025: Aimee Lane - Sand Dollar Media

2024: Alexia Edge - Ripley's Attractions Myrtle Beach

2023: Bailey Johnson - Monarch Roofing

2022: Barbara Tilton - Liberty Tax

2021: Mark Lane-Sand Dollars 

2020: Tami Lee-Liberty Tax

2019: Mark Lane-Sand Dollars

2018: Michelle Mate-Sea Server

Valor Award

The Valor Award will be presented to an individual for acts of valor demonstrated over the past year. Nominees will describe how the individual faced an emergency, provided strength, compassion, and bravery to help someone in danger. These awards are selected by the respective Public Safety Departments of North Myrtle Beach.

2026: Sergeant Chris Bellamy
          Engineer Brian Koontz
          FF/EMT John Gore
          Lieutenant Chris Nadelman
          FF/EMT Robert Villalobos
          Lieutenant Chris Walden
          Master Police Officer Kayla Wallace

2025: Jeffery Gore
          Nick Hughes
          Trey Skidmore
          Zach Walker
          Shannon Walker

2024: Officer Nicholas DeRitis, NMB Police Department
          Officer Emerson Gross, NMB Police Department
         Joshua Andrews, NMB Fire Department
         Tyler Gill, NMB Police Department
         Ryan Sigsworth, NMB Rescue Squad

2023: Officer Wesley Foushee-Pugh, NMB Police
          Engineer Andy Hamer, NMB Fire Rescue

2022: Officer Ian Vaughn, NMB Police
          Firefighter Kevin Polich, NMB Fire Rescue

2021: Sgt. Gordon Best, NMB Police 
          Lt. Nathan Marker, NMB Fire Rescue 

2020: Jason Whedon, NMB Fire Rescue 

2019: Officer Brandon Beaudoin of the North Myrtle Beach Police Department