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.

Benny H. Curl & William T. Daniel Jr. named 2025 JA Savannah Business Hall of Fame Laureates

Savannah, GA — Junior Achievement of Georgia (JA of Georgia) has named Benny H. Curl, Chairman Emeritus of Byrd Cookie Company, and William T. (Bill) Daniel Jr., Principal at Lassiter Investments, LLC and Retired Vice President and General Counsel of the Vaden Automotive Group, as their 2025 JA Savannah Business Hall of Fame Laureates.

Celebrating its silver anniversary, Junior Achievement of Georgia is proud to host the 25th annual gala and continue the tradition of honoring titans of the Savannah business community, presented with generous support from our Diamond Sponsor, Memorial Health. The black-tie event will take place on Friday, November 7, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Savannah.

Benny H. Curl, a Savannah native and U.S. Army veteran, built a distinguished career in accounting and business leadership after graduating from the University of Georgia in 1968. In 1988, he and his late wife Kay purchased Byrd Cookie Company, transforming it into a nationally recognized family business celebrated for its award-winning flavors and innovative packaging. Under his leadership, the company earned honors including the Georgia Family Business of the Year, while Benny himself was inducted into the Specialty Food Association’s Hall of Fame and received its Lifetime Achievement Award. Beyond Byrd, Benny held leadership roles with the Georgia Specialty & Wine Association, the International Specialty Food Association, and First Chatham Bank, where he served as Chairman of the Board. A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Benny’s legacy is defined by his entrepreneurial spirit, community leadership, and commitment to family.

William T. Daniel, Jr., a forty-five-year Savannah resident, is the owner of Lassiter Investments, LLC, and retired in 2020 as Vice President and General Counsel of the Vaden Automotive Group, where he helped expand the family business into a regional automotive leader. Prior to joining Vaden, he practiced law in Savannah and served in the Carter Administration as Special Assistant to the General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Daniel has held numerous leadership roles in healthcare, education, and philanthropy across Savannah, serving boards at Memorial Health University Medical Center, Savannah Christian Preparatory School, and the Georgia Methodist Foundation. He has also been active in civic initiatives, including the Savannah Chamber of Commerce and the Savannah Compact, and has been recognized locally for his leadership, including Savannah’s Rotarian of the Year. Married to Linda Vaden, Daniel is a devoted father and grandfather, and he and his family remain actively engaged at Isle of Hope United Methodist Church.

In addition to the formal induction of Curl and Daniel Jr., the evening will welcome guests to a cocktail hour, where attendees are welcome to bid at the infamous Whiskey Wall, and enjoy some light hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. The 25th JA Savannah Business Hall of Fame will start the program with a seated dinner, followed by a tribute to the ground-breaking programs JA of Georgia is bringing to the Savannah-Chatham County area, and concluding with a champagne toast to Savannah’s newest laureates.

“We are delighted to be welcoming Benny and Bill into our esteemed laureate society,” said Craig Tootle, Director of Development and Volunteer Partnerships for JA of Georgia in Savannah. “Both gentlemen’s contributions have never gone unnoticed within our community; however, we are fortunate to recognize them on such a special year- our 25th anniversary.”

Curl and Daniel Jr. will join the ranks of Savannah’s most distinguished leaders, alongside names such as Sam McCachern, Dale Critz Sr. and Jr., Paula Deen, and so many others. To learn more about the JA Savannah Business Hall of Fame, our 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.

About Junior Achievement of Georgia

Junior Achievement (JA) of Georgia is a business- integrated education partner with expertise in experiential learning that successfully develops key mindsets and skills for students to lead meaningful and successful lives. JA’s high-impact programs drive long-term outcomes in areas of financial literacy, career readiness, and fostering the entrepreneurial spirit, and are delivered by corporate and community volunteers. JA of Georgia offers multiple programs, with a focus on middle and high school students, including JA BizTown, JA Finance Park, 3DE by Junior Achievement, and will soon be offering the JA Dream Accelerator. JA of Georgia has locations in Atlanta, Cumming, Dalton, Evans, Morrow, and Savannah. For more information, visit georgia.ja.org

That's a Wrap - JA of Georgia Year End Snapshot!

Despite the unprecedented circumstances of the past few months, as seen in the snapshot below, JA of Georgia finished the 2019-2020 academic year strong. As we look to the coming year, we are working hard to package our education portfolio to help meet students where they are—whether that's in-person, virtual, or a hybrid model. We are excited to continue expansion of our footprint across Georgia as construction is well underway for the new JA Discovery Center of Greater Dalton and planning has commenced for our fifth JA Discovery Center which will serve students in the Savannah region.

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