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The Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce hosted its 77th Annual Meeting & Awards Celebration on March 13 at Tri-County Technical College-Easley Campus. Sponsored by Truliant Federal Credit Union, the event honored several businesses and individuals for their leadership and community service. Among those awards, Brandon McCurley with Fort Hill Natural Gas Authority was honored as the 2025 Young Professional of the Year, which honors an emerging leader who strives to meet the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment, who devotes time and energy to their community, and who serves as a role model for other young leaders and professionals. Brandon McCurley is a true entrepreneur, hard worker, team player, community servant, business owner, and dedicated father & husband. Prior to starting his career with Fort Hill Natural Gas, he served in the United States Air Force until 2011. While in service, he was deployed to Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan. Upon his return, he started his career as a crewman at FHNG where he later advanced to Gas Controller & Industrial Representative. From the beginning, he has shown the drive to learn, to grow, and to be involved. He has mastered his knowledge and skill in gas control and is always looking for ways to improve and being more efficient. To continue advancing in the industry, in 2023, he received his associate’s degree in business from Spartanburg Methodist College. Currently, he serves as SC Chair of the Carolina Public Gas Association Operators Committee where he plays a key role in industry standards. He is the co-chair of the Easley Chamber’s Young Professionals Steering Committee where he has been an integral part of growing and improving the events hosted for Young Professionals. He saw the need to enhance the events by highlighting a non-profit at the events to encourage learning and volunteering opportunities. His leadership, mentorship, and dedication to professional growth is inspiring to the young professionals and encourages them to also engage and grow in their careers and community. This has allowed attendance to grow from 5 attendees on average to now over 20, with new faces showing up constantly. He is also a part of the last class to graduate from the YP Academy class which was interrupted during covid which meant all classes were virtual. He then went through Leadership Pickens County Class 32 where he was a big part of their class, specifically on their community project. With his dedication, the class raised over $30,000 to complete their community project which is the highest any class has ever raised. Not only was he integral in fundraising for their project at Family Promise of Pickens County, he would also dedicate a lot of sweat hours after work and on weekends. He could be spotted building a patio, digging holes, and fixing areas inside and outside of the project building. He ensured there were volunteers to finish the job! With his diligence and leadership, the project was completed a few weeks prior to the project deadline. Upon graduation, he was invited to be part of the Board of Regents where he leads and organizes LPC classes, as well as explores ways to enhance the program. He also currently serves as a Family Promise Board Member and Maintenance Chair. On top of this, he is a veteran business owner of McCurley Leatherworks, where he handcrafts and customizes leather wallets, belts, phone holders, and so much more. He also engraves on wood. You name it and he can do it. He also co-owners Cascades Head Spa in Downtown Easley with his wife. He spent many hours, days, weeks, and months ensuring everything was up to standard for operations. He is a big support to his wife in all their business needs. He dedicates his all to everything he is involved in and is always going above and beyond. He even finds ways to dedicate himself in hobbies. As an avid fisherman, he loves to support Fishing 4 Heroes while enjoying some time in nature. Most importantly, he is a dedicated husband and father of two. He is a loving son and cherished friend. Brandon Mccurely is someone who always answers the call when anything is needed, whether that is in the business word or personal life. He is someone who has done great things and continues to go above and beyond to serve those around him. His selflessness and commitment to service, to work, and life has impacted on the trajectory of many businesses, non-profits, and individuals. He is someone who will continue to impact everyone around him and will accomplish many more milestones. Please join the Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce in honoring Brandon McCurely as the 2025 Young Professional of the Year.