By CAROLYN CARY
ccary@thecitizennews.com

James I. “Jim” Pace Jr. is the 1999 Business Person of the Year for the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce.

The award was announced at the group's Annual Banquet Saturday.

Pace, co-founder and president of Group VI Corporation, was chosen by a panel of former winners based on his diverse business background spanning 27 years.

His civic interests encompass a broad spectrum from his service on the City Council of Peachtree City to active service on the boards of a number of Fayette County civic organizations. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta.

The award was presented by the 1998 Business Person of the Year, Wayne Leslie. The chamber has been giving out the award since 1981.

Other awards presented Saturday include:

” Ambassador of the Year is Margaret Vail, co-owner of Aaron's Systems.

The award is given to someone the chamber deems as having put the chamber first. Said outgoing Chairman Michael Whiteside, “Mrs. Vail is one of the founding members of the Ambassador program, and is such an advocate of the chamber, we just do not know anyone else who could muster enough energy to keep up with all her volunteer efforts.”

She has served as chairman of several chamber committees over the years and also was recognized for her constant support and presence.

” The Chet Wells Award went to Janet McGregor for serving the chamber over and beyond the call of duty.

McGregor was selected for her many years of designing materials for the chamber, serving on a number of committees and providing the “brain child” for the chamber's Christmas tree entry at Noel November.

She began a public relations and graphics company, JMac Marketing,, in Fayette County in 1994.

The late Chet Wells was a very active member of the chamber in the 1970s, and McGregor is the 24th recipient of the award.

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