- November 7, 2024
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Halfway through his speech, Jimmy Millhollin read this line from his notes: "Insert joke here."
Millhollin swore in the volunteer board members at the installation ceremony.
The 2017 Chamber of Commerce Board
The installation ceremony was held at the Hammock Beach Resort.
The theme of red, white and blue was an easy choice for the theme to the 2017 Flagler County Chamber of Commerce Installation Banquet: Jimmy Millhollin, who was installed as the new chairman, is a Navy veteran who has always had a great love for his country.
He has seen the war-torn countries of the world, he said, but "whenever I saw the American flag, I felt safe and secure."
As owner of the RE/MAX Flagstaff office in Palm Coast, he and his wife of more than 25 years, fellow Navy veteran Annette Gardinal, also use the flag in their business: Their slogan is, "Proud to have served our country, proud to serve you."
Millhollin was sworn in for a one-year term to lead the volunteer board, at the Jan. 27 event at Hammock Beach Resort. In the same meeting, Rebecca DeLorenzo, who was hired in 2007 and became president of the organization in 2013, was emotional as she said goodbye: She will leave the chamber and join the Red Cross next month.
Past chairman Donald O'Brien, who is now a county commissioner, introduced Millhollin. "In my world," O'Brien said, "there is no Jimmy Millhollin, there's Jimmy and Annette. So we're lucky: We get the team." He called Millhollin a "first-class gentleman."
In his acceptance speech, Millhollin praised the chamber's successful traditions and said he would also look for new opportunities, including a military appreciation breakfast. He said it would be appropriate, considering there are about 12,000 veterans among Flagler County's 100,000 residents.
Millhollin's priorities for the next year will be community, communication and collaboration.
"There's no looking back," he said. "I hope you will all join me in embracing the change before us and working side by side to create opportunity to drive our success."
