Chamber Announces Small Business Awards Winners

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce presented Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. with the Sarasota Chamber’s 2006 Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Small Business of the Year Award sponsored by The Herald-Tribune Media Group. The awards event is one of the programs of the Chamber’s Small Business Council, chaired this year by Michele Nelson, CEO of Anexio, Inc.

Celebrating 15 years of recognizing the achievements of small businesses, Chamber president Steve Queior noted that he and Chair Diane McFarlin of The Herald-Tribune Media Group believe that small business is big business in Greater Sarasota. “With more than 90 percent of our members having fewer than 50 employees, the Chamber has long held this awards ceremony as a centerpiece of its annual programming to recognize all that small businesses do to support and enhance our local economy.�

The three finalists for the Small Business of the Year Award were: Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc., SRQ Magazine, and Staffing Professionals.

Also during the event, the Young Business of the Year, Woman Entrepreneurial Excellence, Minority Business of the Year, Arts Organization of the Year, and Young Professional of the Year awards were presented.

The Young Business of the Year (sponsored by Ludwig-Walpole Insurance Company) was awarded to Grapevine Communications Int’l. Inc. Other finalists included Architectural Salvage and Water Designs of Sarasota, Inc.

The Minority Business of the Year (sponsored by The Zenith) was presented to TV Net Media Group, Inc. Other finalists included Digital Doctors, Inc. and Siesta Key Bungalows.

The Woman Entrepreneurial Excellence Award (sponsored by Hyatt Sarasota) was presented to Betsy Nelson of Metro Coffee & Wine. Other finalists included Margaret Goreshnik of Allegro Music Academy and Sandy Lange of A Better Solution of Sarasota, Inc.

The Young Professional of the Year (sponsored by Sarasota Manatee Business Magazine) was presented to Dr. Anne Chauvet of Veterinary Neuro Services, LLC. Other finalists included Aimee Chouinard of The Wellness Community and Eric Massey of Michael Saunders & Company.

The Arts Organization of the Year (sponsored by Bank of America) was presented to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Other finalists included the Asolo Theatre Company and Florida West Coast Symphony, Inc.

Over 500 business people attended the sold-out event conducted by the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, which exists to maximize its members’ success, the community’s quality of life, and the area’s economic strength.

Chamber Announces Small Business Awards Winners

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce presented Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. with the Sarasota Chamber’s 2006 Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Small Business of the Year Award sponsored by The Herald-Tribune Media Group. The awards event is one of the programs of the Chamber’s Small Business Council, chaired this year by Michele Nelson, CEO of Anexio, Inc.

Celebrating 15 years of recognizing the achievements of small businesses, Chamber president Steve Queior noted that he and Chair Diane McFarlin of The Herald-Tribune Media Group believe that small business is big business in Greater Sarasota. “With more than 90 percent of our members having fewer than 50 employees, the Chamber has long held this awards ceremony as a centerpiece of its annual programming to recognize all that small businesses do to support and enhance our local economy.�

The three finalists for the Small Business of the Year Award were: Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc., SRQ Magazine, and Staffing Professionals.

Also during the event, the Young Business of the Year, Woman Entrepreneurial Excellence, Minority Business of the Year, Arts Organization of the Year, and Young Professional of the Year awards were presented.

The Young Business of the Year (sponsored by Ludwig-Walpole Insurance Company) was awarded to Grapevine Communications Int’l. Inc. Other finalists included Architectural Salvage and Water Designs of Sarasota, Inc.

The Minority Business of the Year (sponsored by The Zenith) was presented to TV Net Media Group, Inc. Other finalists included Digital Doctors, Inc. and Siesta Key Bungalows.

The Woman Entrepreneurial Excellence Award (sponsored by Hyatt Sarasota) was presented to Betsy Nelson of Metro Coffee & Wine. Other finalists included Margaret Goreshnik of Allegro Music Academy and Sandy Lange of A Better Solution of Sarasota, Inc.

The Young Professional of the Year (sponsored by Sarasota Manatee Business Magazine) was presented to Dr. Anne Chauvet of Veterinary Neuro Services, LLC. Other finalists included Aimee Chouinard of The Wellness Community and Eric Massey of Michael Saunders & Company.

The Arts Organization of the Year (sponsored by Bank of America) was presented to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Other finalists included the Asolo Theatre Company and Florida West Coast Symphony, Inc.

Over 500 business people attended the sold-out event conducted by the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, which exists to maximize its members’ success, the community’s quality of life, and the area’s economic strength.