On Friday evening, September 20, 2024, the HSV BIG held its Chapter Awards & 34th Anniversary Celebration at the Holiday Inn, Research Park in Huntsville, Alabama. The event was a momentous occasion for the chapter in celebrating 34 years of serving in the national organization of Blacks In Government and attended by chapter members and friends.

Featured speaker for the occasion was Mr. Kenny Anderson, Chief, Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the City of Huntsville, Alabama. Mr. Anderson made highly congratulatory remarks about the chapter and its accomplishments, noting specifically that longevity says a lot about an organization. Chapter President Mary Peoples provided a brief history of the chapter from its organizational meetings with 20 charter members employed at local Redstone Arsenal agencies and the Office of Personnel Management through years of successful programs, events, recognitions and chapter awards. She considers the chapter as the “Flagship Chapter of Region IV” due to its member’s performance at regional and national levels.

The awards ceremony was a significant part of the event, where several members of the community, and BIG members were recognized. Award recipients were:

• BIG Distinguished Service Award - Mary Peoples, Chapter President

• Mary D. Peoples Award - Michelle Smith, Chapter Treasurer

• Thurgood Marshall Award - Commissioner Violet Edwards, Madison County Commission, District 6

Trailblazer Awards were presented to recognize individuals who were pioneers in breaking color barriers or the glass ceiling in occupying certain positions, and receiving high level promotions in occupations at the local, state, and federal level. Trailblazer awards were presented to:

• Major General Lori Robinson, first woman to command the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal;

• Mr. William Reeves, first Black to be promoted into the Senior Executive Service at the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Redstone Arsenal;

• Mr. Brian Wood, first Black to be promoted into the Senior Executive Service at the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal

• Mrs. Elsie Nance, first Black to serve in the Personnel Department at the City of Huntsville Utilities Company.

Certificates of Appreciation were presented to several chapter members including Arlene Erskine, Kara Reese, Ralph Redrick, and Abraham Borum III for their dedicated and noteworthy service to the chapter during the year.