The Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet will be held Feb. 19 at the Wendell Mitchell Conference Center on the campus of LBW Community College.

Executive Director Francine Wasden said the event offers an opportunity to “come together and see what the Chamber is doing, as well as learn what’s in store for the city in the upcoming year.”

“This really is an event for everyone, not just Chamber members,” Wasden said. “We’d love to see everyone come out for it. I feel like the Chamber Banquet is the chamber’s premiere event of the year.  It’s an opportunity for people to come out and meet existing business members as well as new people, and mix and mingle with one another.”

The event will mark the fifth consecutive year the Chamber of Commerce has held the banquet.

This year’s speaker will be Sister Shubert Barnes.

Sister Shubert’s name is known around the world for her famous homemade rolls that can be found in most grocery store freezers.  Sister Shubert’s famous rolls started out in the kitchen of her home in Troy, Ala., as a treat for only her family and friends, but quickly evolved into bakeries in Alabama and Kentucky, producing more than 9,000,000 rolls a day.

Sister Shubert sold her stock in her company to Lancaster Colony in 2000 but still plays an active role at the mega-bakery business.  She serves as Culinary Ambassador for the State of Alabama, and in addition to serving on the Board of Directors of the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame, she serves Auburn University as a Visiting Executive in the Lowder School of Business, as a member of the Women’s Philanthropy Board and a member of the Dean’s Board of School of Human Sciences. She also serves on the board of the Barnes Family Foundation as its President.

“We are very excited to have Sister Shubert speak at our banquet,” Wasden said. “She is a successful entrepreneur who started a worldwide business from her home kitchen, and I can’t wait to hear her speak.”

Wasden said the Chamber of Commerce chose to have Sister Shubert serve as its keynote speaker because she is a testament to how hard work and dedication can really lead to success, no matter how small or large of a community you are from.

“Sister Shubert has had so much experience starting a small business and turning it into successful empire of a business.  She’s an extremely sweet person and she has such an amazing story to share.”

Greenville Mayor Dexter McLendon will also deliver his State of the City address at the banquet, and the Chamber of Commerce will present the “Distinguished Business Leader Award,” and the “New Business of the Year Award.”

Tickets for the event, which will begin at 6:30 p.m., are $25 and include dinner. To purchase tickets contact the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce at (334) 382-3251.  Sister Shubert will be on hand for a book signing of her book, “Celebrations from the Heart” prior to the event at 5:30 p.m.  The cost of the book is $40 plus tax.  All proceeds from book sales will be donated to the Barnes Family Foundation, Nall Art Association and the Sims Foundation for ALS research.

Musical entertainment will be provided by Greenville High School’s band.