The High Point Chamber of Commerce named four winners at its 2004 Small Business Awards luncheon Thursday, including the first-ever winner
By Matt Harrington
The High Point Chamber of Commerce named four winners at its 2004 Small Business Awards luncheon Thursday, including the first-ever winner in a new category, Minority Business Advocate of the Year.
Jane Evans, unit supervisor of business research services for the High Point Public Library, was the recipient of that award. Tom Dayvault, president of the High Point chamber, said the new award was the result of a new chamber initiative.
"Our chamber started a minority business council last year," he said. "Initially (the council) was looking at awarding a minority-owned business of the year award, but they felt that minority businesses should be considered with the other businesses. They preferred the award be given to a person or a business that has gone out of their way to assist minority businesses."
Chris Greene won this year's Small Business Advocate of the Year award from the chamber. She has served on "just about every board in town," said High Point chamber Vice President of Business Development Tonia Stephenson. Most recently, she led the High Point effort in getting bonds passed for Guilford County Schools.
Al Adams, principal of Senn Dunn Corpening, an insurance company, was named Small Business Person of the Year for companies of between one and 25 employees. Adams led High Point's Corpening Insurance Center, which was purchased by Greensboro-based Senn Dunn in January.
Owen Bertschi, general manager of Crescent Ford, was named Small Business Person of the Year for companies with more than 25 employees. Bertschi also serves as second vice chairman of the High Point Economic Development Corp.'s board of directors.
Dayvault said the winners were chosen not only for their success in business, but for what they do outside the workplace.
"All the winners have been dedicated servants to the High Point community," he said. "Not just in their business life, but in their civic and service life. They've all been leaders, they've all been risk-takers and they've all made a difference."
The awards were presented at a joint meeting of the High Point Rotary Club and Kiwanis Club of High Point.
Wes Jones of radio station WIST 98.3 FM, who emceed the event, called the small businesses "the backbone of America." The theme of the event was "Champions of Free Enterprise."
Other finalists in the category for small businesses with fewer than 25 employees were John and David Chang of Spectrum Wireless and Heidi Majors, director of the YWCA of High Point. For companies with more than 25 employees, the other finalists were Chet Green of Liberty Steakhouse and Harvey Lowd of KAO Specialties Americas LLC.
The other Small Business Advocate finalists were Margaret Lewis of Simon Jewelers and Kay Meekins of BizLife magazine. Bob Mitchell of Southern Community Bank & Trust and Doug Page of Omni National Bank were the other finalists in the Minority Business Advocate category.
The Business Journal
The High Point Chamber of Commerce named four winners at its 2004 Small Business Awards luncheon Thursday, including the first-ever winner in a new category, Minority Business Advocate of the Year.
Jane Evans, unit supervisor of business research services for the High Point Public Library, was the recipient of that award. Tom Dayvault, president of the High Point chamber, said the new award was the result of a new chamber initiative.
"Our chamber started a minority business council last year," he said. "Initially (the council) was looking at awarding a minority-owned business of the year award, but they felt that minority businesses should be considered with the other businesses. They preferred the award be given to a person or a business that has gone out of their way to assist minority businesses."
Chris Greene won this year's Small Business Advocate of the Year award from the chamber. She has served on "just about every board in town," said High Point chamber Vice President of Business Development Tonia Stephenson. Most recently, she led the High Point effort in getting bonds passed for Guilford County Schools.
Al Adams, principal of Senn Dunn Corpening, an insurance company, was named Small Business Person of the Year for companies of between one and 25 employees. Adams led High Point's Corpening Insurance Center, which was purchased by Greensboro-based Senn Dunn in January.
Owen Bertschi, general manager of Crescent Ford, was named Small Business Person of the Year for companies with more than 25 employees. Bertschi also serves as second vice chairman of the High Point Economic Development Corp.'s board of directors.
Dayvault said the winners were chosen not only for their success in business, but for what they do outside the workplace.
"All the winners have been dedicated servants to the High Point community," he said. "Not just in their business life, but in their civic and service life. They've all been leaders, they've all been risk-takers and they've all made a difference."
The awards were presented at a joint meeting of the High Point Rotary Club and Kiwanis Club of High Point.
Wes Jones of radio station WIST 98.3 FM, who emceed the event, called the small businesses "the backbone of America." The theme of the event was "Champions of Free Enterprise."
Other finalists in the category for small businesses with fewer than 25 employees were John and David Chang of Spectrum Wireless and Heidi Majors, director of the YWCA of High Point. For companies with more than 25 employees, the other finalists were Chet Green of Liberty Steakhouse and Harvey Lowd of KAO Specialties Americas LLC.
The other Small Business Advocate finalists were Margaret Lewis of Simon Jewelers and Kay Meekins of BizLife magazine. Bob Mitchell of Southern Community Bank & Trust and Doug Page of Omni National Bank were the other finalists in the Minority Business Advocate category.
The Business Journal
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