Local Professionals and Businesses Recognized at 2026 Small Business Awards
The Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce celebrated the impact of the local small business community during the 2026 Small Business Awards Celebration held on May 13, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Decatur Riverfront.
Area professionals and businesses were recognized for their leadership, creativity and commitment to the community during the annual luncheon event. Award recipients were selected from nominations submitted by Chamber members and evaluated by previous honorees. The luncheon also included recognition of milestone anniversary members and the graduation of the Chamber’s 2025-2026 Excellence in Leadership class.
Patrick Johnson was named the Raymon Baker–John Cook–Ralph Jones Small Business Person of the Year. A lifelong Morgan County native, Johnson is the owner of State Farm Insurance – Patrick Johnson Agency P.C.. Raised on a family farm, he developed a strong work ethic and passion for serving others early in life. A graduate of the University of North Alabama, Johnson has spent more than 17 years building and leading his business while living by the motto, “listen first, serve always.”
Johnson has remained actively involved in the community through organizations including the Decatur Kiwanis Club and the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, where he previously served as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Through his business and volunteer service, he has supported numerous local schools, nonprofits and community initiatives. He and his wife, Vanessa, are parents of two daughters.
Addison McNutt was recognized as the Arthur Orr Young Professional of the Year. A Decatur native, McNutt currently serves as an Electrical Design & Analysis Engineer at The Boeing Company, supporting NASA’s Space Launch System Artemis Program as an Avionics Test Lead. Over the past nine years, she has contributed to the design, testing and validation of mission-critical aerospace and defense systems supporting human spaceflight and major Artemis milestones.
McNutt earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Mississippi and an Executive MBA from The University of Alabama. She remains actively involved in the community through Rotary, the Alabama Women’s Commission Junior Board and the Chamber’s Excellence in Leadership Program. McNutt is also a member of the Alabama Leadership Initiative (ALI Class VII) and is serving her second year as a Commodore for the Chamber.
Landis Griffin received the Lynn C. Fowler Non-Profit Professional of the Year award. Griffin currently serves as Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity in Morgan County and has worked in the nonprofit sector for nearly 20 years. She earned her associate degree from Calhoun Community College and currently serves on the State Board for the Alabama Association of Habitat Affiliates as well as the U.S. Council Rural Advisory Group for Habitat for Humanity International.
A longtime Chamber volunteer, Griffin has served as a Commodore for approximately 15 years and previously held the role of Admiral of the Commodores. In 2015, she received the Rosie Hennessy Commodore of the Year Award for her leadership and community service. She and her husband, Heath Griffin, have two daughters.
The Chamber also introduced a new recognition during the event — the Love Where You Launch Grant Award. Created for member businesses with $500,000 or less in annual revenue, the project-based grant is designed to help small businesses launch new ideas, expand operations, renovate spaces or invest in future growth opportunities.
This year, the Chamber received 17 applications from small business owners across Morgan County. Maverick Events was selected as the inaugural recipient for its “Know Your Neighbor” campaign, a storytelling initiative featuring mini-documentaries and social media content designed to inspire community pride, strengthen local engagement and highlight the people and businesses that make Decatur unique.
Casey Hughes accepted the award on behalf of the company. Maverick Events received $1,000 to launch the project and will have the opportunity to receive an additional $1,000 upon completion of the initiative over the next year.
During the luncheon, graduates of the Chamber’s 2025-2026 Excellence in Leadership class shared the impact of their community service project, the Dec Days Festival held on April 18 in downtown Decatur. The event raised nearly $35,000 for Brothers for Life Benefit Fund, Community Free Clinic of Decatur-Morgan County and Meals on Wheels.
The Chamber thanks presenting sponsor King Insurance Agency and gold sponsors City of Decatur, MB Electric, Inc. and Renasant Bank for their support of the event.