Boston Scientific, Six Bridges Brewing and a Peachtree Parkway healthy-meal franchise were among 13 Johns Creek businesses honored Wednesday, Aug. 5, when the Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce unveiled its first-ever Confluence Business Awards at a sold-out 20th anniversary celebration.
The event at YiFan Restaurant & Event Center drew so much demand that guests purchased standing-room-only tickets, according to Johns Creek Magazine. The program featured red-carpet arrivals and sealed envelopes opened on stage for each category.
"This community decided what it wanted to be, and then went and became it," Chamber president and CEO Shay Foley told the crowd. "Nobody was required to join us — 176 businesses chose to, in a single year."
The winners
Ten main awards and three special distinctions went to businesses ranging from a global medical-device manufacturer to a one-location franchise:
Main awards:
- Cornerstone Award (Large Business of the Year) — Boston Scientific
- Momentum Award (Medium Business of the Year) — Six Bridges Brewing
- Trailblazer Award (Small Business of the Year) — The Hooper Firm
- Headwaters Award (Emerging Business of the Year) — Clean Eatz
- Founder's Spirit Award (Entrepreneur of the Year) — PostNet Johns Creek
- Impact Award (Non-Profit of the Year) — Johns Creek Veterans Association
- Bridge Award (Community Partner of the Year) — Fulton County
- Trust Award (Financial Institution of the Year) — First American Bank & Trust
- Keystone Award (Ally of the Year) — Northside Hospital
- Wellspring Award (Chamber Values in Action) — Estate Law Center USA
Special distinctions:
- Anchor Award — Renasant Bank
- Bloom Award — Johns Creek Beautification
- Tributary Award — WePartner Group
Boston Scientific opened a manufacturing and supply chain facility in Johns Creek in May, and Six Bridges Brewing operates its taproom at 11455 Lakefield Dr. Clean Eatz owner Yao Peng, a Johns Creek resident and former HR technology consultant, opened her franchise at 3630 Peachtree Parkway in September 2024.
Record growth year
The awards capped a fiscal year in which the Chamber grew net membership 46.2%, adding 176 new members, and grew revenue 41.2%. Those numbers hit a five-year strategic-plan target set for 2030 four years ahead of schedule. As we reported July 24, Foley called the membership figure "the number I'm proudest of" because every member joined voluntarily.
Business delegations from nine countries visited Johns Creek during the past year. The Chamber also launched a free Small Business Resource Center open to members and non-members and hosted an inaugural AI Summit.
New leadership
Members elected 17 new directors to the board, bringing it to its full authorized strength of 60. David Dabo was installed as incoming board chair, succeeding Greg Powell.
The event sold out.
Dignitaries in attendance included Mayor John Bradberry, Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne, state Sen. Shawn Still, state Rep. Dr. Michelle Au and the ambassador of Tanzania, H.E. Dr. Elsie Sia Kanza.
One award carried a backstory: Holly Geerdes of Estate Law Center USA, a sponsor, asked to be removed from award consideration because she felt it would be unfair. The Chamber honored the request, then gave her the Wellspring Award for that very act of integrity.
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