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A tradition of recognition returns to the Camellia City in early March.

The Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its 11th annual Chamber Banquet on Thursday, March 5, at the Wendell Mitchell Conference Center on the campus of Lurleen B. Wallace Community College.

GACOC Executive Director Tracy Salter said the annual event offers an opportunity “for chamber members, coworkers, family and friends, to gather and celebrate the many successes of the community.”

The banquet is also a time that the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce recognizes local individuals and businesses for their contributions to the chamber and community.

“The banquet offers the opportunity for business and individual members to come together at one place in order to network with one another, meet and greet other members, and to highlight businesses and individuals for their contributions to the chamber and community during the awards recognition,” Salter said.

This year’s keynote speaker will be Leslie Sanders. Sanders serves as vice president of Alabama Power Company’s Southern Division, one of America’s largest producers of electricity.

A 33-year veteran of Alabama Power Company, Sanders previously served as vice president of governmental relations, where she was responsible for overseeing all aspects of governmental affairs for the company at the state level.  A graduate of the University of Alabama, Sanders joined Alabama Power Company in 1986, and has since worked in staff and management positions, including constituency relations director, public information representative for the company’s Southern Division and as a marketing representative in Montgomery. Prior to joining the company, she was a public relations assistant with Humana Hospital and a media buyer for Cunningham, Black and Farley in Montgomery.

Among her civic and professional activities, Sanders served as the chairman of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and the Montgomery Riverfront Development Foundation. She was recently appointed to serve as a representative of Congressional District 2 on the Board of Trustees of the Department of Mental Health by Gov. Kay Ivey. She also serves on the boards for the Alabama Children’s First Foundation, Alabama Department of Human Resources, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Central Alabama Community Foundation, Marion Military Institute, Montgomery Junior League, Metro YMCA and numerous other boards and committees.

This year’s Citizen of the Year, Spirit of Greenville, John D. Murphy, New Business of the Year, Large Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year and Distinguished Business of the Year awards will all be presented at the event.

Tickets for the banquet, which will begin at 6:30 p.m., are $25 and include dinner.

To purchase tickets, contact the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce at (334) 382-3251.

The deadline to purchase tickets is March 2.