Fast Track 2025 wrapped up on March 5, with eight winners receiving awards from the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce for their booth designs.
Brenell Thomas, president of the chamber, said selecting the winners was a “tough choice.”
All booths followed the event’s theme: “Cultivating Growth, Inspiring Success,” and were judged by an anonymous panel, she added.
Awards were divided into two categories: nonprofit and for-profit, with the two biggest honors being Best in Show and Exhibitor’s Choice.
Top Awards
Best in Show went to SOVAH Health, which embraced a Wizard of Oz theme. Employees dressed as Dorothy and the Tin Man, with their booth placed at the entrance of Fast Track to represent the theme “healthcare close to home.” The team took inspiration from the upcoming “Wicked” movie for their design.
“We want to see what’s happening, and ‘Wicked’ was the theme, so we went with ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and we are going to carry it throughout the year,” said Carole McGovern, director of physician recruitment. “We got more characters coming, we got more events coming—this is going to be our year of ‘there’s no place like home.’”
The Exhibitor’s Choice Award went to Meeks Recycling and Pick & Pull, which featured a can-crushing crane machine and a scrap metal throne with a wearable crown.
“It feels really good. We really appreciated the opportunity to come,” said Chris Meeks, who credited Josh Meek with assembling the throne.
Nonprofit Category Winners
*Third Place: Martinsville City Public Schools – Their booth featured a floral theme with a central tub. Visitors wrote messages on seed-infused paper hearts, which will be planted at the school to symbolize growth and success.
“The seeds in the paper will grow along with that good positive energy to really inspire growth and success in our students,” said Communications and Outreach Coordinator Callie Hietala.
*Second Place: West Piedmont Planning District Commission – Their booth featured a plant ball game.
*First Place: Henry County Public Schools – Their booth showcased a nature theme, including student-made floral arrangements raffled off to visitors.
“We want to really highlight our students with this booth. The artwork was from our students—the birds, the leaves, the 3D printing,” said Superintendent Amy Blake-Lewis.
For-Profit Category Winners
*Third Place: Lawless Welding – Their booth featured a Collinsville-themed sign with a moving windmill representing the Dutch Inn.
“I would like to do these as life-size letters one day—it’s really our sample,” said owner Chris Lawless.
*Second Place: The Lester Group – Their booth displayed various tools, chairs, and windows.
* First Place: Greg James Insurance – Their booth emphasized community growth.
“Our theme was that we are growing with the community, and that we can be successful and help our community succeed as well,” said Marketing and Office Manager Melanie Hampton.
