Lexington Chamber honors Blowfish owners

Whether it’s becoming Coastal Plain League champions and hoisting the Petit Cup or launching Lexington’s popular Shamrock Parade, Lexington County Blowfish owner Bill Shanahan attributes his achievements to “teamwork.”

Shanahan shared the credit for the Blowfish’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade as he and wife Vicki Shanahan accepted the Lexington Chamber & Visitors Center’s Mike Till Impact Award during the chamber’s annual meeting and awards banquet held Wednesday, Aug. 26, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Columbia.

“Teamwork. Lauren (Scurry) helped get this off the ground for us, and that was just one of the community events that we felt we could be part of to help,” Shanahan said. “So again, it's teamwork. Yeah, it's everyone working together, and this chamber is really very special to us.”

Shanahan said he sought Scurry’s help with the Shamrock Parade — held this March for the 11th consecutive year ­­— after learning she organized the Lexington Christmas Parade.

The parade protégé shared the stage with his mentor for the chamber’s final award presentation. Scurry and Angela Klosterman helped present the Mike Till Impact Award named for their father, a former chamber board chairman. The award is given to someone “who best exemplifies Mike’s character of humility, friendliness, perseverance and civic engagement,” according to the nomination form.

Shanahan said the honor came as a surprise.

“Unexpected. We're humbled,” he said. “Vicki and I are very thankful. And anything that we can do for any of your businesses or your organizations, we're here for you.”

State Rep. Paula Rawl Calhoon, R-Lexington, announced the award and introduced the Shanahans.

“Twenty-one years ago, a couple steps into their ‘Field of Dreams,’” Calhoon said. “From day one, they partnered with the business community, local government and organizations to bring us the Lexington County Blowfish baseball club. Then, through community outreach, they have supported families in need and lifted our community.”

A franchise in the 15-team collegiate summer Coastal Plain League, the Blowfish won the league’s Petit Cup championship in 2023 after earning a first CPL title in 2012.

Calhoon thanked the Shanahans for making community outreach and nonprofit partnerships a hallmark of the Blowfish organization.

“Bill and Vicki Shanahan use a personal business approach to their success,” she said. “They constantly look to make new friends, to provide cost-affordable family fun and to continuously reach out to assist the families and communities of Lexington County. They have built more than a baseball program, and the people continue to come to enjoy the magic at the Lexington County baseball games.”

The Lexington County Chamber & Visitors Center honored two Young Professionals of the Year. James “J.R.” Fennell, director of the Lexington County Museum, was recognized in the male category, and Ikeiya Blakely, founder and CEO of Busy Bees Playhouse, earned the female young professional award.

Lindsey Miles of the Miles Allstate Agency said Blakely opened Busy Bees, an inclusive indoor sensory play space for children, after her infant son’s death in February, “turning personal adversity into purpose.”

“She channeled her grief into creating a place of joy, connection and inclusion for local families,” Miles said. “Community service is at the heart of her motivation through Busy Bees Playhouse. She hosts educational programs led by child development experts, partners with local therapists and recently organized a back-to-school bash providing supplies and resources to families.”

Blakely said her four-month-old son Ezra succumbed to a heart attack as she and her husband prepared to open Busy Bees, “so it was very difficult to continue to build something like this.”

“But what sets us all apart, I believe, as business owners and leaders, is that we push past all of the no's and keep going even on the hard days,” Blakely added. “So that's what I try to do — not just for Ezra, but for our other kids as well, and even the one that I'm currently expecting.”

Chamber board member Travis Hall of Dominion Energy said Fennell “has spent nearly two decades preserving and sharing our community's history while growing the museum through innovative programming and community management.”

“He's an active civic leader, mentor to emerging professionals and currently serves as the chairman of Lexington County's 250th commission,” Hall said. “His passion for education, preservation and community service has made a lasting impact throughout the community.”

While accepting his award, Fennell thanked chamber President and CEO Angelle LaBorde “and everybody who supported the museum, supported me. We have a wonderful county museum — thanks to the community.”

Finalists for Young Female Professional of the Year were Christina Brown of Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union and Anna Mills Cox of Amplified Communications. Young Male Professional of the Year finalists were Gavin Brown of Transitions Homeless Center and David Ruiz-Puyana of Elite Lawn and Landscape LLC.

Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union was honored as Large Business of the Year. Finalists in the category were Pollock Co. and Saluda Hill Landscapes.

Elite Lawn and Landscape LLC was named Small Business of the Year. Finalists were Re/Max Purpose Driven and The Perry Agency.

Daphne Freeman, representing cleaning service Jan-Pro of Columbia, earned recognition as the chamber’s Ambassador of the Year.

W. Keller Kissam, president of Dominion Energy in South Carolina, served as keynote speaker for the chamber’s annual meeting and awards presentation.

The meeting marks the start of new terms on the Lexington Chamber & Visitor Center Board of Directors. Trey Powell, 2025-26 board chair and owner of Mosquito Joe of Lake Murray and Wonderly Lights, turned over leadership to 2026-27 Chairman Austin McVay, commercial relationship manager for United Community Bank, with a ceremonial passing of the gavel.