Burke County Chamber of Commerce celebrates 80 years at annual meeting and awards luncheon

Six business owners received awards at last week’s Burke County Chamber of Commerce’s 80th anniversary annual meeting and awards luncheon — including a member of the board, who had no idea it was coming.

“We’re the ones who usually select the award recipients after the nominations come in,” said Mimosa Insurance Agency’s Dalton Walters, winner of the Distinguished Business Person of the Year award. “But I found out later that Tonia (Stephenson, Chamber president and CEO) was scheming, so she was sending me one email and sending everybody else a different one.”

Walters said he appreciates whoever nominated him for the award.

“I definitely don’t take it lightly because I know there are a lot of good business folks here in town,” Walters said. “We all work together to try to make things better around here, and sometimes you just work so hard and it’s just nice to feel like other people — not that we do it for the recognition — but it’s nice to know that people see what we do.”

Walters is a Burke County native who is finishing up a six-year run as a Chamber board member, two of which were spent as chairman. He has also chaired the Western Piedmont Foundation twice in about 15 years of involvement and recently became president of the Historic Burke Foundation. And these are just a couple of organizations he is involved with.

Community involvement is a major part of Walters’ life because he loves this county and its people. Plus, he grew up seeing his grandparents involved, watching as they gave back to a community and organizations that had also helped them.

“Growing up, I just felt like being back here and participating in this community is the thing to do,” Walters said.

At the meeting, Chamber chairman Kevin Farris — who is passing the mantle on to Danette Brackett — said the Chamber has had an incredible year.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such talented leaders in our community. As we look ahead to 2026, I am confident that we will continue to grow, innovate, and strengthen Burke County’s business landscape.”