Opelika, AL- (September 26, 2025) The Opelika Chamber of Commerce hosted its Annual Valor Public Safety Awards at the Bottling Plant Event Center in downtown Opelika on September 15, 2025.
The Valor Awards is an event honoring our local first responders. At the awards dinner, attendees heard a fireside chat-style panel discussion from retired FDNY heroes from Tunnel to Towers 9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit. Together, they shared their personal stories of courage, loss, and resilience — from leading search and rescue operations to organizing hundreds of memorials. This was the Tunnel to Towers’s first-ever appearance in Alabama. The panelists included:
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John Bruckner, Battalion Chief
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Herb Penner, Battalion Chief
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Tony Tomesheski, Lieutenant
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Douglas Adams, Firefighter
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Steve Spellman, Firefighter
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Billy Puckett, Field Manager, 9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Many awards were given out to our local first responders. Awardees included:
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Nicholas Glover, Emergency Management Professional of the Year
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Ben Hardy, EMS Medic of the Year
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Sara Jackson, EMS Dispatcher of the Year
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Drew Dawe, Firefighter of the Year
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Dylan Munnerlyn, City of Opelika Communications Operator of the Year
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CJ Rodgers, Police Office of the Year
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Destiney Bass, Lee County Sheriff’s Office Dispatcher of the Year
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Richard Knox, Corrections Deputy of the Year
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Jonathan Kennedy, Sheriff’s Deputy of the Year
“Our first responders embody the very best of Opelika — courage, compassion, and commitment,” said Ali Rauch, President & CEO of the Opelika Chamber. “Honoring their service through the Valor Awards is just one small way we can say thank you for the sacrifices they make every day to protect our community.”
This event was free to first responders thanks to our sponsors. Our presenting sponsor was Glynn Smith Chevrolet GMC. H&S Commercial & Industrial Supplies and Services was the award sponsor. The Gold Sponsors included Thalamus, Jackson Services, and Auburn Productions, along with several other sponsors.
About the Opelika Chamber
For more than 80 years, the Opelika Chamber has been dedicated to strengthening the community as the champion of business by building bridges, cultivating connections, and elevating local enterprises. Representing more than 1,000 businesses and over 20,000 employees, the Opelika Chamber has earned a reputation for operational excellence and innovation. In 2024, the Opelika Chamber was honored as the national Chamber of the Year, further cementing its role as a statewide leader. It is also one of only three 5-star accredited chambers in Alabama, a distinction that reflects its commitment to best practices and outstanding service. For more information about the Opelika Chamber, visit www.opelikachamber.com.
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