The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber has announced the nominees of its 2022 Business Recognition Awards. Chamber Director of Events Sarah Spoonholtz tells WSJM News a total of seven awards will be given out at the Business Recognition Breakfast on February 24. They come in the categories of Best New Business, Economic Impact, Small Business, Non-Profit, and more.
“The Business Recognition Awards are a way for us to recognize and celebrate the businesses in southwest Michigan that have been doing great things,” Spoonholtz said. “These are the businesses that have made an economic impact, they’re small businesses that deserve recognition, including in the non-profit area too.”
Spoonholtz says there will also be awards given out to individuals, like the Rising Star Award and the Pat Moody Award, which goes to someone who’s been thriving in the southwest Michigan business community for 10 years or more. In keeping with tradition, the Chamber will also recognize one of its 14 Ambassadors as the 2021 Ambassador of the Year. You can get tickets for the breakfast, which will be held hybrid style, at the chamber’s website. Attendees will also hear a special keynote from the new president of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Jim Holcomb.
The nominees:
Business Focused:
· Best New Business
o The Brick House
o Dallas Commercial Cleaning
o Happy Poochie
o Local Pour
o The Market
o State Street Meats
· Economic Impact Award
o B&L Information Systems
o GT Independence
o United Federal Credit Union
· Small Business of the Year Award
o Advanced Family Eye Care
o LEO + LAINE
o MailMax
o Waterfront Framing & Design
· Non-Profit Excellence Award
o Berrien County Historical Association
o Citizens Mediation Services
o Junior Achievement
o Region IV Area Agency on Aging
Individual Focused:
· Rising Star Award
o Rhiannon Cizon, Berrien County Historical Association
o Chris Mason, Watermark Brewing
o Nick Shelton, City of Niles Mayor & Shelton’s Farm Market
o Ashley Slack, Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency
· The Pat Moody Award
o Bob Burch, Sturgis Bank & Trust
o Gayle Olson, Mid-West Family Southwest Michigan
o Roger & Pam Seely, Roger’s Foodland
Business Recognition Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony Sponsors:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Honor Credit Union, Comcast Business, Mid-West Family Southwest Michigan, MoodyontheMarket.com, 1st Source Bank, Lake Michigan College Mendel Center, and United Federal Credit Union.
