Junior Achievement of Georgia to Induct Kronowitz and Leopold into Savannah Business Hall of Fame

SAVANNAH, GA — Junior Achievement of Georgia (JA of Georgia) has named Lowell Kronowitz and Stratton Leopold as the 2026 JA Savannah Business Hall of Fame Laureates.

JA of Georgia is proud to host the 26th annual gala and continue the tradition of honoring outstanding members of the Savannah business community. This black-tie event, presented by Memorial Health, will take place on Friday, November 6, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency of Savannah.

Lowell Kronowitz is a Savannah native, longtime business leader, and president of Levy Jewelers, Savannah’s only fourth-generation family-owned jewelry business. Founded in 1900, Levy Jewelers celebrated 125 years in business in 2025, with Lowell helping carry forward its legacy of expertise, service, and deep community relationships. A graduate of Hobart College with a degree in Economics and Political Science and the University of Michigan with an MBA in Finance, Lowell built his career in finance before joining Levy Jewelers. Beyond his professional leadership, he has dedicated his time to numerous civic and nonprofit organizations, including the Savannah Airport Commission, Bethesda Home for Boys, Telfair Museum of Art, United Way of the Coastal Empire, Savannah Music Festival Foundation, and The 200 Club of the Coastal Empire. Lowell and his wife, Hilary, have three children, Jack, Peter, and Amanda.

Stratton Leopold is a Savannah native, ice cream entrepreneur, Hollywood film producer, and longtime community leader. Raised in his family’s ice cream business, Stratton went on to build a more than 40-year career in the motion picture industry, ultimately serving as Vice President of Production at Paramount Pictures and producing films including Mission: Impossible III, The Sum of All Fears, and The Wolfman. Today, he carries forward the legacy of Leopold’s Ice Cream, the Savannah institution founded by his father and uncles in 1919, while continuing to share his time and resources generously with his community. Stratton is deeply involved in organizations supporting youth, veterans, and military families, including the Boy Scouts Coastal Georgia Council, Girl Scouts of Coastal Georgia, The 200 Club of the Coastal Empire, and the Sua Sponte Foundation. Through his I Pledge for Ice Cream Project, he has also helped more than 135 ice cream shops across nearly 40 states reward children for reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, extending his commitment to community well beyond Savannah.

In addition to the formal induction of Lowell and Stratton, the 26th JA Savannah Business Hall of Fame will welcome guests to a cocktail hour featuring the infamous Whiskey Wall and Wall of Wine, a seated dinner, followed by a tribute to the revolutionary programs JA of Georgia is bringing to over half of Georgia’s middle school students and beyond.

“What an honor it is to be inducting two Savannah legends,” shared Craig Tootle, Director of Development and Volunteer Opportunities for JA of Georgia in Savannah. “Lowell and Stratton are staples within the Savannah community, and their commitment to business, philanthropy, and the people who call this city home is truly inspiring.”

To learn more about the JA Savannah Business Hall of Fame, sponsorship opportunities, the laureates, or to purchase a ticket, please visit georgia.ja.org/hall-of-fame-savannah. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the event, please email Craig Tootle at ctootle@georgia.ja.org.

Dalton Legend named 2026 JA Northwest Georgia Business Hall of Fame Laureate

Dalton, GA — Junior Achievement of Georgia (JA of Georgia) has named W.L. “Tommy” Thompson as their 2026 JA Northwest Georgia Business Hall of Fame Laureate.

JA of Georgia is proud to host the 20th annual gala and continue the tradition of honoring titans of the northwest Georgia business community. The elegant event will take place on Thursday, March 5, 2026, in the Dalton Convention Center.

Worth L. (Tommy) Thompson graduated from the University of Georgia in 1965 and began his career selling construction materials throughout the Southeast before becoming manager of a fuel jobbership in Gwinnett County in 1967. In 1983, he purchased a Phillips 66–branded jobbership in Dalton from Broaderick Oil Company and grew the business, now known as Thompson Energy, to more than $400 million in annual sales before selling the company, including 43 convenience stores and fuel centers, to MAPCO in 2006. Following the sale, Tommy formed Thompson-Kenny with Josh Kenny, acquiring a wholesale fuel dealership in metro Atlanta that has since grown into one of the largest in Georgia, while also continuing to expand his fuel transport business, Spirit Express, which he sold in 2025. In 2018, he and business partner, Jason Denson, purchased Brooker Ford, now Ford of Dalton. Beyond his business success, Tommy has demonstrated longstanding civic leadership, including serving as Chairman of the Gwinnett Hospital Authority in 1980, where he led bond sales to build a new medical center that later became part of Northside Hospital. In 1986, he traveled to Washington, D.C., to secure approval to form Commercial Bank of Gwinnett, which later acquired Commercial Bank of Georgia. Tommy served as Chairman of Energy Marketers of America in 2022, representing petroleum marketers across all 50 states. He also serves on the board of Dalton Utilities, is Vice Chair of the Ross Woods board, Chairman of The Tent Ministries board, and remains active at The Church on the Hill, in addition to serving as past chair of the Georgia Oilman’s Association and multiple oil company advisory boards.

In addition to the formal induction of Thompson, the evening will also honor Anna Adamson & Zack Adamson, both individually, as their 2026 Rising Stars. The 20th JA Northwest Georgia Business Hall of Fame will welcome guests to a cocktail hour, a seated dinner, followed by a tribute to the ground-breaking programs JA of Georgia is bringing to the Greater Dalton area.

“We are delighted to be recognizing Tommy Thompson and the Adamsons,” said Caroline Frost, Director of Development for JA of Georgia in Northwest Georgia. “Their commitment and generosity have shaped our community for years, and it is especially meaningful to honor them during our 20th anniversary.”

To learn more about the JA Northwest Georgia Business Hall of Fame, sponsorship opportunities, our laureate, or to purchase a ticket, please visit georgia.ja.org/dalton-hall-of-fame. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the event, please email Caroline Frost at cfrost@georgia.ja.org.