2026 Madison Visionary Awards

The fourth annual Madison Visionary Awards, held on March 25, 2026, was hosted by Madison Visionary Partners (MVP) and shone a spotlight on the outstanding individuals and organizations that continue to help Madison thrive. With heartfelt recognition and celebration, the event honored the individuals whose selfless contributions and dedication to the City of Madison have made it one of the most desirable places to live.

Youth Volunteer of the Year

The Youth Volunteer of the Year award went to Joshua Macri, a senior at Whitesburg Baptist Christian School. Joshua began his volunteer journey due to his love of the outdoors and animals. He has volunteered with North Alabama Land Trust, SARTEC, Asbury Food Pantry, OneGen, Manna House, Huntsville Humane Society, Apollo Coalition, Green Team, Madison Visionary Partners, Madison Street Festival, Huntsville Animal Services, Madison Animal Services, Hugs for Soldiers, Operation Christmas Child, and Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital of the Carolinas.

Youth Volunteer of the Year finalists included Kendall Lugos, a senior at James Clemens High School, and Blake Lugos, a sophomore at James Clemens High School.

Community Volunteer of the Year

Crystal McBrayer, president of the Madison Street Festival, received the 2026 Community Volunteer of the Year award. She started out volunteering her time at church and with Madison City Schools.  As President of the Madison Street Festival, she successfully led the 40th anniversary of the event in 2022 after cancellations in 2020 and 2021. Under her leadership, the Madison Street Festival has doubled their local community impact by awarding $30,000 in grants in 2025 to local educational organizations.

Miranda Nichols and Trina Bishop were the Community Volunteer of the Year finalists.

Philanthropic Business Person of the Year

Scott and Amy Edwards of Summit7 were the Philanthropic Business Person of the Year winners. The Edwards are a dynamic duo that fosters an atmosphere that encourages employees to give back.  They encourage volunteerism at Summit7 through coordinated and volunteer-led efforts, and provide flexible work hours to allow employees to volunteer their time. They encourage others to give generously to legacy projects and services that will serve our community for generations. They have made major financial gifts to the Madison Community Center, Asbury Church Madison Capital Campaign, Big Oak Ranch, Better Together, and West Point Association of Graduates, among many others. 

Eugene Jung of Champy's of Madison was the finalist in this category.

Visionary of the Year

The highest honor of the event was the Madison Visionary of the Year. The 2026 recipient was recognized for his years of civic involvement and significant contributions to the City of Madison. He founded MVP, a nonprofit dedicated to improving quality of life in the community of Madison. As Mayor of Madison, he strengthened regional relationships and built meaningful collaboration. Under his leadership and influence, Madison evolved from a quiet bedroom community into one of the top places to live in the United States.

Mayor's Community Champion

Mayor Ranae Bartlett also bestowed the first ever Mayor's Community Champion Award. This award honors an individual who has made a significant impact on the City of Madison. The 2026 recipient was Spencer Beach, pastor of Building Church, for his contributions in organizing aid to residents affected by the sudden closing of the Sutton Apartments.

You can read profiles on each finalist in the March issue of Madison Living Magazine.