Richmond Hill Montessori Preschool received the 2015 Business of the Year Award at the Richmond Hill-Bryan County Chamber of Commerce annual meeting and dinner banquet Thursday at the City Center.

During her acceptance speech, Montessori founder and owner Audrey Singleton said that as she looked out over the audience, “many of your children were part of my children.”

“I have had a phenomenal opportunity to reach two generations of kids at this point, and I’m not stopping,” she said.

Montessori Preschool opened in 1995 in Richmond Hill.

The evening’s keynote speaker was Stedman Graham, best-selling author and chairman and CEO of the Chicago-based management and consulting firm S. Graham & Associates. He focused much of his speech on the concept of self-mastery and taking care of oneself.

“It’s not how the world defines you; it’s only how you define yourself,” he said.

Stedman also brought up his famous longtime partner, Oprah Winfrey, particularly when describing a sign in Richmond Hill welcoming him.

“I’m used to seeing Oprah’s name on signs,” he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Also Thursday, Angus McCleod received the DeVaul Henderson Community Service Award, and Naomi Havens was named the 2015 Ambassador of the Year.

For more on the event, see BryanCountyNews.com and the Jan. 28 edition of the News.