Nominate elite area businesses by Jan. 30
Submit your nominations for the annual Business Excellence Awards of Greater Canton – awards that recognize exceptional Stark County businesses for excellence and outstanding achievement in 2008. Honorees of this year’s Business Excellence Awards will be recognized during the gala awards dinner held on Wed., April 29, at Kent State University Stark Professional Education and Conference Center.
“Stark County is home to some of the most innovative, growing and dynamic businesses in the country,” said Dennis P. Saunier, president & CEO of Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce. “These businesses go above and beyond providing jobs and funding our economy – they are on the cutting-edge of emerging technology, they are making capital investments to our area, they dedicate resources to the community and they are helping to make our region more appealing to business growth and relocation. In short, these outstanding businesses are worthy of Stark County’s preeminent business award – the Business Excellence Award.”
Criteria for the awards are leadership in: business and employment growth, expansion of operations/efficiencies, outstanding customer service, investments in capital improvements, innovation/expansion of product line(s), responsiveness to business and industry challenges and adversity and community involvement. Up to five of the winners will be honored with an Outstanding Business Award; and one will receive the Business of the Year Award.
“Receiving a Business Excellence Award can boost a company’s business by instilling confidence with consumers and suppliers,” said Will Tolerton, president, Terry’s Tire Town, the 2006 Business of the Year recipient. “Many companies invest considerable amounts of money to advertise that they are the best in their line of business but there is no greater endorsement than being selected for a Business Excellence Award.”
NEW FOR 2009! Entrepreneur of the Year Award
This year, Canton’s premier business awards have introduced a NEW award, the Entrepreneur of the Year award. Entrepreneurs are a rare breed of individuals – driven, strategic, innovative, and often courageous men and women who lead companies to great success and achievement. This NEW award is meant to recognize entrepreneurs of all businesses industries and stages – including new or innovative ventures.
The Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce is excited to welcome this crucial segment of Stark County business to the Business Excellence Awards. Help us recognize Stark County’s most dynamic business leaders and nominate individuals for Entrepreneur of the Year. All business owners of non-publicly traded, for-profit companies with less than 1,000 employees in any industry are eligible. A single winner will be selected by the committee judges, and will be honored at the Business Excellence Awards in April.
Currently, sponsors of the Business Excellence Awards of Greater Canton dinner and ceremony are: Bruner-Cox LLP, Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths & Dougherty Co., LPA, Stark State College, The Repository and Chase Bank.
Any for-profit companies anywhere in Stark County that are non-publicly-traded with less than 1,000 employees and have been outstanding during the past year are eligible for nomination. To nominate a company for the Outstanding Business award or Entrepreneur of the Year award, please visit www.cantonchamber.org or www.businessexcellenceaward.com.
If you have questions regarding eligibility or the nomination process, please contact Nancy Leffler, event manager, at (330) 458-2073 or nancyl@cantonchamber.org. Nomination deadline is Jan. 30.
