Northwest Soiree Awards
The Alumni Professional Achievement Award:
Justice Robert P. Chamberlin
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Justice Robert P. Chamberlin of Hernando joined the Mississippi Supreme Court on Jan. 3, 2017. Justice Chamberlin was elected in a runoff election on Nov. 29, 2016, to an open seat on the Supreme Court.
Justice Chamberlin served for 12 years as a circuit judge of the 17th Circuit District. Then Gov. Haley Barbour appointed him to the 17th Circuit bench on Nov. 24, 2004. The district includes DeSoto, Panola, Tallahatchie, Tate and Yalobusha counties. In 2006 he co founded the 17th Circuit Drug Court with then-Circuit Judge Ann Lamar. He served as chairman and vice chairman of the Conference of Circuit Judges.
He was elected to the Mississippi Senate in 1999, and served Senate District 1 of DeSoto County for five years. He was vice chairman of the Universities and Colleges Committee from 2000 to 2003 as well as chairman of the Elections Committee in 2004. He was selected as Legislator of the Year by the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Association in 2003. While serving in the Senate, he attended by invitation the National Security Seminar held at the United States Army War College.
He served as Municipal Court Judge for the City of Hernando from 1991 to 1999. He served as Municipal Prosecutor for the City of Horn Lake in 1992. He also served as a Special Master in Chancery Court. Shortly after he graduated from law school, he went to work for what was to become the Austin Law Firm in Hernando and later formed Chamberlin Nowak, P.C. He was in private law practice for 14 years, and served as attorney for the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors for four years. He is a member of the American Inns of Court.
Justice Chamberlin was born April 6, 1965. He graduated from Hernando High School in 1983. He attended Northwest Mississippi Junior College and later graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. He earned a law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1990.
Justice Chamberlin is a lifelong resident of Hernando and is married to the former Kim White. They have one son, William and daughter-in-law, Sara.
The Young Alumni Professional Achievement Award:
Dr. Robert Barnes
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Dr. Robert Barnes began his academic journey at Northwest Mississippi Community College as a Pre-Med student, where he graduated with a 4.0 GPA and earned membership into Phi Theta Kappa. He also served as vice president of Phi Thera Kappa during that time.
After earning his Associate of Arts in Biology at Northwest, Dr. Barnes went on to attend Delta State University where he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He then attended medical school at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he finished in the top 20% of his class. Afterwards, he completed his residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and now works as a primary care physician at Panola Medical Center in Batesville, MS.
Passionate about serving rural communities, Dr. Barnes has also taken on leadership roles in education, mentoring students, and advocating for better healthcare access. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Savannah, their son, Elias, and their two cats, Leo and Mila. In his free time, you’ll find him tackling DIY projects, exercising, or gardening. Dr. Barnes is truly grateful for the support and opportunities that started with his time at Northwest Mississippi Community College and is honored to receive the Young Alumni Achievement Award.
The Spirit of Northwest Award:
Dr. Edward D. Field
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Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Edward D. Field, a native Mississippian and former high school and college athlete, is known throughout the state and the Southeast for his skill and expertise as an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician. His specialties include arthroscopic and reconstructive knee and shoulder surgery, as well as joint replacements. He has performed more than 1,000 anterior ‘cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions.
In 1995 Dr. Field met with Dr. David Haraway, Athletic Director Jimmy Miles and Head Football Coach Bobby Ray Franklin. They offered him the job as Team Physician for the Northwest Rangers. Over the last 30 years, it has been his privilege and passion to serve the needs of Northwest Mississippi Community College athletes.
Education
He received his undergraduate education at Tulane University, where he also completed medical school and his orthopedic surgery residency training. Following his residency, Dr. Field completed two additional sports medicine fellowships at the prestigious Steadman-Hawkins Sports Medicine Clinic in Vail, CO, and with the equally renowned Hughston Sports Medicine Clinic in Columbus, GA. Through these fellowships, Dr. Field gained world-class experience treating elite athletes as associate team physician for the United States Alpine Ski Team, Colorado Rockies, Denver Broncos and Tulane University.
Team Physician/Consultant Affiliations
- Northwest Community College, 1998-present
- University of Mississippi, 1992-2012
- Mississippi Valley Community College, 2014-present
- Mississippi Delta Community College, 1992-present
- Rust College, 1995-present
- Coahoma Community College, 1998-present
- U.S. Ski Alpine Team 1991-1996
Accolades and Recognition
- Southeastern Athletic Trainers Association, Sports Medicine Person of the Year 2002
- Ole Miss Sports Medicine Award, for hard work and dedication in helping further
- knowledge of the field of sports medicine in 2000-2001
- MS Valley State University Commitment of Excellence Award 2016
- Oxford Football 12th Man Award 2015
- Lady Charger Basketball Award for superb service in helping us become champions
- Oxford School District Citizen of the Year 2007
- Rust College, Eddie L. Smith Extra Mile Public Service Award of Outstanding Support of
- Intercollegiate Activities 2003
Memberships and Affiliations
Dr. Field serves on the staff of Specialty Orthopedics Group of Oxford. He is a member of the medical staff at Baptist Memorial Hospital of North Mississippi and a former member of the Board of Directors for the Oxford Outpatient Surgery Center and Oxford Diagnostic Center. He is a member of the American Medical Association, The Hawkins Shoulder Society and the American Sports Medicine Society.
Personal
Dr. Field and his wife Julie have two young adult daughters, Elizabeth and Catherine. In his spare time, he especially enjoys golf, hunting, fishing and managing his tree farm.
Outstanding Corporation Award:
Click Here for Honoree’s Bio!
The Panola Partnership is a multifaceted organization that serves as the driving force behind developing the economy in Panola County, Mississippi. Established in 1996, this non-profit entity functions as a unified office for economic development, human capital and workforce development, tourism and community development, the chamber of commerce for the entire county, and houses the Batesville Main Street Program.
At its core, the Panola Partnership is dedicated to building a robust economy and enhancing the quality of life for Panola County residents. They uncover and seek the right type of growth that joins and partners with their communities and raises self-esteem and living wages. The organization takes a comprehensive approach to achieving these goals, focusing on several key areas:
Economic Development
The Partnership's economic development efforts take on anything that can develop the economy. With that said, they place significant emphasis on the needs and expansions of their existing 44 industries, encouraging innovation and technology. They seek diversity when attracting new industries to broaden the skill level of their area’s workforce. The Partnership also recruited solar to meet the renewable energy credit needs of our industries for their sustainability goals, locating solar as a showcase off Interstate 55 to shine a positive light on Panola and Mississippi as a whole.
Workforce Development
Recognizing the importance of a skilled workforce in attracting and retaining businesses, the Partnership has implemented several initiatives in Panola County:
- Established and continue to maintain Panola County as an ACT Certified WorkReady Community
- Creating the award-winning PreK-12 Spark Program
- Developing the 360° Entrepreneurial Program
- Implementing the “Made In Panola” county-wide high school career fair, featuring a necessary skills training program
- Established and continue to hold Regional Industry Workforce Collaborative meetings in a roundtable setting
- Spearheading the Concourse Skills Training Facility with Northwest Community College
- Spearheading the Northwest Community College School of Aeronautics
- Supported and assisted in securing county-wide high-speed broadband for education and business.
Tourism and Community Development
As the official tourism office for Panola County, the Partnership promotes the area's attractions. They collaborate with local businesses and community organizations to showcase the appeal and unique charm, cultural heritage, events, and recreational opportunities.
Batesville Main Street Program
The Batesville Main Street Program, another integral part of the Panola Partnership, focuses on revitalizing, enhancing, promoting, and preserving the historic downtown district area of Batesville.
Panola County Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber of Commerce, operating under the Panola Partnership umbrella, is dedicated to promoting and supporting local businesses, recruiting new retail that eases the rate of economic cannibalism. It offers numerous benefits to its members, including listings, groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, online exposure, company video portals, social media and newsletter postings, networking events, increased digital impressions, data research, meeting spaces, and grant information.
Through each of these efforts, the Panola Partnership has positioned itself as a crucial catalyst for economic growth and community development in Panola County. By fostering a pro-business environment, promoting tourism, investing in workforce development, attracting talent, and technology transfer, the organization continues to drive the county's progress and enhance its attractiveness to both businesses and residents alike.
Staff
- Joe Azar – Director and CEO of Panola Partnership
- Robbie Haley – Director of Workforce Development, Office Manager
- Katie Azar – Director of Community Development, Marketing, and Batesville Main Street