Small business awards nominations announced

Nominations have been closed for the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year and Customer Service Awards, according to Karen Sphar of the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce.

Area businesses owners nominated for the Small Business Person of the Year are: Julie Autry and Leah Hall, Lucky Dogs; Debby Daigle, Plantation Properties; Bryan English, E. Bryan English Builders; Captain Butch Foster, Yeah Right Sportsfishing Charter; Marianne Long, Bullfrog Corner; and Jeff Satterwhite, Centerline Realty & Development.

Area businesses nominated for the Customer Service Award are: Art Skipper Realty; Centerline Realty & Development; Coastal Vacations Resorts-Oak Island; E. Bryan English Builders; Plantation Properties; and Yeah Right Sportsfishing Charter.

Each nominee will be asked to submit information for review including a brief biography, business profile, concise statement of the qualities and performance that merit the award, and supporting documentation. Evaluation criteria includes staying power, growth in number of employees, percentage increase in sales or unit volume, innovativeness of product or service offered, response to adversity and contributions to aid community-oriented projects.

Nominations will be presented to the Small Business & Technology Development Center of the University of North Carolina Wilmington for selection.

The winners will be announced at the Chamber’s annual membership meeting/dinner from 5:30-8 p.m. on June 12 at the Southport Community Building. Both winners will be recognized at the 12th annual Coastal Small Business Awards from 8-10 a.m. on June 13 at UNCW.

The winner of the Small Business Person of the Year award will be eligible and encouraged to compete at the state level. If the winner of the Small Business Person of the Year Award from the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce should win the state award, the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce will provide air transportation, one night’s hotel accommodations and meals for the winner and a guest up to $1,000 to attend the National Small Business Conference & Trade Show in Washington, DC.

Past winners for Small Business Person of the Year were Dr. Joy McClenny, Family Chiropractic Plus; John A. Azzato, M.D., Orthopaedic Specialists, P.A.; Kimberly Boggs, Southport-Oak Island School of Dance, Carl Ward III, Ward Mini Storage and Truck Rental; and Bryan English, E. Bryan English Builders.

Past Small Business Customer Service winners were: Oak Island Accommodations, Sykes Portable Welding & Repair, Inc. and Lower Cape Fear Hospice & Lifecare Center.