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Gwinnett Chamber Announces 2023 Small Business Award Winners

December 1, 2023 by Mike

Gwinnett Studio

Gwinnett Chamber Announces 2023 Small Business Award Winners

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2023 Small Business Awards Winners pose with Gwinnett Chamber CEO Nick Masino: Danielle Hudson-Laughlin (SAGE Business Counsel), Kandi Todd (Bring The Crew), Joy Monroe (SPARC), Tim Minard (Eclipse Gaming Systems), Mark Farmer (Gwinnett Entrepreneur Center), Colleen Japuntich (NEMA), Shara Ryan (Team Ryan Automotive), Bin Liu (SimpleFloors), and Charbel Aoun (Georgia First Generation Foundation).

GWINNETT CHAMBER ANNOUNCES 2023 SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS

The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual Small Business Awards on December 1st at 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville. The program recognized ten winners among 100 finalists for exceptional business practices and entrepreneurial excellence.

“Ninety percent of our members have 50 employees or less making small business a vital industry to our organization and an important one to recognize and celebrate,” said Nick Masino, President & CEO, Gwinnett Chamber and Partnership Gwinnett. “We are honored to have these amazing individuals innovating and leading our business community and would like to congratulate them on their incredible success this year.”

Rikki Klaus, producer for CNN, emceed the awards program sharing each winner’s compelling story of ingenuity, creativity, and success. Winners were announced in real time as follows:

Community Contributor Award – SPARC (Single Parents Alliance & Resource Center)
Culture Creator Award – Eclipse Gaming Systems
Emerging Entrepreneur Award – Charbel Aoun (Georgia First Generation Foundation)
Launch Award – Sugarloaf Wellness Center
Minority-Owned/Woman-Owned Business Award – Danielle Hudson-Laughlin (SAGE Business Counsel)
Small Business Award (0-5 Employees) – Bring The Crew
Small Business Award (6-24 Employees) – Team Ryan Automotive
Small Business Award (25+ Employees) – NEMA, Inc.
Support System Award – Gwinnett Entrepreneur Center
Founder Award – Bin Liu (SimpleFloors)

Former EO Atlanta President Ethan King delivered this year’s keynote address. King shared his insight and experience as an entrepreneur which led him to become a bestselling author of Wealth Beyond Money, TEDx speaker, entrepreneur, and co-founder of his business, Zeus’ Closet.

To learn more, please visit GwinnettChamber.org/Small-Business-Awards.

Mike Sammond interviews keynote address speaker Ethan King, bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and co-founder of Zeus’ Closet.

LIVE from the GNFCC Grand Opening Celebration: Connor Griffin, Cortavo

September 23, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

LIVE from the GNFCC Grand Opening Celebration: Connor Griffin, Cortavo

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LIVE from the GNFCC Grand Opening Celebration: Connor Griffin, Cortavo (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 524)

Connor Griffin, Sales Manager and Account Executive at Cortavo, joined host John Ray LIVE from the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Grand Opening Celebration. Connor discussed not only the IT solutions Cortavo solves for their clients, but some of the serious technology issues businesses are facing right now. Connor also talked about Cortavo’s membership in GNFCC, the GNFCC Small Business Awards, and much more.

This show was originally broadcast live from the Grand Opening celebration and ribbon cutting of the new offices of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce at the 10000 Building at Avalon in Alpharetta, Georgia, on August 18, 2022.

North Fulton Business Radio is produced and broadcast by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Connor Griffin, Sales Manager and Account Executive, Cortavo

**Connor Griffin, Sales Manager and Acount Executive, Cortavo**

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Cortavo was founded in 2019 as a complete and affordable IT solution for small to mid-sized businesses.

Cortavo’s mission is to remove the complexity of business IT and provide everything businesses need to be successful. From cybersecurity, helpdesk support, networking equipment, and cloud data storage to hybrid workplace systems. Their all-inclusive IT plans and support are designed to scale as your business grows.

With Cortavo, all you have to do is focus on your business while they handle your IT.

Company website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Connor Griffin LinkedIn

Questions and Topics in the Interview:

About Cortavo
Problems they have been solving for their clients
Connor’s involvement with GFNCC
GNFCC Small Business Awards

North Fulton Business Radio is hosted by John Ray and broadcast and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Special thanks to A&S Culinary Concepts for their support of this edition of North Fulton Business Radio. A&S Culinary Concepts, based in Johns Creek, is an award-winning culinary studio, celebrated for corporate catering, corporate team building, Big Green Egg Boot Camps, and private group events. They also provide oven-ready, cooked-from-scratch meals to go they call “Let Us Cook for You.” To see their menus and events, go to their website or call 678-336-9196.

2021 SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS: Launch Pointe at Gwinnett Tech and Trinity Staffing & Career Resources

December 9, 2021 by Mike

Gwinnett Studio

2021 SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS: Launch Pointe at Gwinnett Tech and Trinity Staffing & Career Resources

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Melvin Emerson, Donna Linden and J.D. Mealor

Risk-takers. Problem solvers. The dreamers and the doers. Not for the faint of heart, being a small business owner is a bold feat. Now, more than ever, it is critical to celebrate those who are up to the challenge. The Gwinnett Chamber’s Small Business Awards do just that by showcasing those that dare to start, sustain, and succeed, and the community that supports them.

Melvin Emerson/Launch Pointe at Gwinnett Technical College (Support System Award)

Launch Pointe, The Clyde L. Strickland Center for Career Experience is laser-focused on providing work-based learning and career development. Working with both large and small local, regional and global business employers, Launch Pointe provides students opportunities to participate in internships, apprenticeships and entrepreneurship experiences designed to augment classroom activity and foster educational, occupational and personal growth.

Donna Linden/Trinity Staffing & Career Resources (Small Business Award 0-5 Employees)

Trinity Staffing and Career Resources provides employers and professionals excellence in staffing & recruiting services.

2021 SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS WINNERS: Seven Oaks Academy, 360 Pest & Food Safety Consulting and American Painting & Renovations

December 8, 2021 by Mike

Gwinnett Studio

2021 SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS WINNERS: Seven Oaks Academy, 360 Pest & Food Safety Consulting and American Painting & Renovations

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Erica Gwyn, Chelle Hartzer, J.D. Mealor and Sid Theus

Erica Gwyn/Seven Oaks Academy (Minority-Owned/Woman-Owned Small Business Award)

Seven Oaks Academy is a preschool in Lilburn, GA that offers various platforms for creative learning experiences for all the children in their facility. Aiming for quality child development and favorable outcomes are their primary concerns. They want every child to be well-equipped with the right knowledge and expertise for them to be well-rounded individuals. Apart from having an exciting learning environment, their professionals strive to unleash the potential of every child.

Chelle Hartzer/360 Pest & Food Safety Consulting (Launch Award)

360 Pest & Food Safety Consulting helps companies solve tough pest issues. They help companies trouble-shoot ongoing issues, put preventative plans in place, and improve their pest control services.

Sid Theus/American Painting & Renovations (Founder Award)

For over 30 years, American Painting & Renovations has provided top-rated service within the multifamily, commercial, and residential industries as a contractor. Their goal has been to ensure you receive reliable products and unmatched installations promptly. Their nationwide service, quality workmanship, and competitive pricing have earned them numerous recognitions within these industries, and is confirmed by their growing list of satisfied customers.

2021 SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS: Mighty 8th Media, Anthony Chen and Home of Hope

December 7, 2021 by Mike

Gwinnett Studio

2021 SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS: Mighty 8th Media, Anthony Chen and Home of Hope

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Anthony Chen, Jonathan Holmes, Maureen Kornowa and J.D. Mealor

Jonathan Holmes/Mighty 8th Media (Culture Creator Award)

For marketing that makes an impact, look no further than Mighty 8th Media. They are an award-winning Atlanta marketing and design agency. From concept to completion, their crew delivers the ideas and stories that take businesses to higher levels of success. Whether it’s working as an extension of your existing team, or serving as your entire outsourced marketing department, they’re suited up and ready for any mission. Mighty 8th Media has been recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work” by Atlanta Business Chronicle and Georgia Trend Magazine; a 2018 “Small Business of the Year” and Pinnacle Awards winner by the Gwinnett Chamber; and one of Atlanta’s “Top 50 Marketing and Advertising Agencies” for 2017 and 2018. Mighty 8th Media strives to be an ongoing source of pride and economic growth for the Gwinnett community.

Anthony Chen/Lighthouse Financial Network (Emerging Entrepreneur Award)

Lighthouse Financial Network begins with a commitment to you, listening, advising, and building ongoing relationships. They are affiliated with Royal Alliance Associates, member FINRA/SIPC. Their firm is located in Melville, NY and has an additional 6 affiliated offices located within the metropolitan area. They provide financial guidance to clients across the country, each with unique financial needs. They are comprised of a dedicated group of professionals, with high core values and extensive experience in finance, insurance and money management. Many of the advisors have attained advanced degrees and professional designations to enhance their ability to best represent you to make certain that they meet your needs effectively. Their advisors are responsible for understanding your financial picture, applying a comprehensive strategy and providing the appropriate resources to help meet your goals and objectives. Their mission is to provide you with quality financial advice, to build relationships based on trust, and to develop unique solutions to help you reach your financial goals. They embrace a team philosophy and work with your attorneys, accountants, trustees, and other professional advisors to help ensure the most efficient and effective approach is taken when creating your financial solutions. Contact them to begin “lighting your way to a secure financial future”.

Maureen Kornowa/Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter (Community Contributor Award)

Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter is a transitional living facility for homeless children (0-17) with their mothers. They are designed to address the homeless issue in Gwinnett County and the metro Atlanta area. They do this by keeping the family unit together and teaching mom the necessary life skills designed to get her to independence. They provide housing, food, and clothing in a safe and nurturing environment where kids are free to be kids while mom works a customized life plan designed to take her from homeless to hopeful, and ultimately into a home of her own.

SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS (1 of 3): Rocket IT, Arefin Law Office and Bexley & DeLoach

December 12, 2020 by Mike

Gwinnett Studio

SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS (1 of 3): Rocket IT, Arefin Law Office and Bexley & DeLoach

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Matt Hyatt/Rocket IT (Culture Creator Recipient)

Rocket IT is the outsourced IT department for all kinds of businesses, providing the strategy, security, and support needed to help organizations thrive. The organization virtually manages all its clients’ day-to-day technology requirements for a flat monthly fee, with no contracts to tie them down. With businesses becoming more dependent on technology every day, it’s almost impossible for companies to keep up with all the complexity. It’s more than one internal IT person can handle, and it requires more strategic insight than most IT support companies offer.

That’s where Rocket IT come in. Rocket IT’s unique three-pronged approach includes: 1) services built around the people instead of technology; 2) real strategic foresight, not just break/fix hindsight; and 3) a better way to ensure trust and accountability. Rocket IT gives small businesses the capability of a full IT department, with a 98% client satisfaction rate and a 25-year track record of helping people thrive.

Since 1995, Rocket IT has helped businesses meet their goals through the effective use of technology. Today, the organization actively supports a long list of growing companies in diverse industries including finance, healthcare and manufacturing.

Sharmin Arefin/Arefin Law Office (Minority-Owned/Woman-Owned Small Business Recipient)

The Arefin Law Office (ALO) is an Atlanta metropolitan-area based consumer financial services law firm, which specializes in employment litigation, business transactions, commercial
litigation, consumer credit litigation, contested foreclosures, sales practices and advertising of auto dealerships, regulatory compliance, regulatory enforcement and trials, evidentiary
hearings, and child welfare matters. At ALO, their clients’ best interests come first, and everything they do is guided by their values and professional ethics. Building on their client and non-client relationships, they strive to light the way for their clients.

Jennifer DeLoach/Bexley & DeLoach (Support System Award)

Bexley & DeLoach is a full-service boutique law firm located near downtown Lawrenceville, GA. They provide services in business, trademark, family, estate planning, probate, criminal and immigration law. Their signature is their personal, small-firm service coupled with big firm results.

SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS (2 of 3): Twin Kookies & Treats, Stablegold Hospitality and Tucker’s Catering

December 12, 2020 by Mike

Gwinnett Studio

SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS (2 of 3): Twin Kookies & Treats, Stablegold Hospitality and Tucker's Catering

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Rosalind Tucker, Ali Jamal and Pierina Anderson

Pierina Anderson/Twin Kookies & Treats (Launch Recipient)

Twin Kookies and Sweets is a home-based cottage food bakery. Pierina makes custom sugar and cinnamon cookies for all occasions. Made with love and with the freshest of ingredients.

Ali Jamal/Stablegold Hospitality (Emerging Entrepreneur Recipient)

Stablegold Hospitality is a real estate investment company that specializes in affordable accommodations for low-income and no income individuals and families. CEO Ali Jamal wanted to do something out-of-the-box for the hotel industry, and so he took a page from Wal-Mart, placing focus on volume vs. room rates. This ingenuity has developed a unique business model that allows the company to serve a demographic most businesses shy away from and, in doing so, performs a service for the local community by saving and re-purposing buildings that might otherwise remain vacant. What started in 2011 as one rundown and shutdown hotel is now a thriving business, with approximately 1500 Metro Atlanta rental units – which includes ten independently operated extended stay hotels in addition to single family residential housing. SGH employs more than 100 people in Georgia.

Chef Rosalind Tucker/Tucker’s Catering (Pivot Pro Recipient)

Tucker’s Catering is a family-owned catering business in Norcross, GA. Chef Roz started the company in 2007 with her husband, James Tucker, and they quickly established a reputation as one of the region’s finest catering companies. Tucker’s Catering was recently named Norcross’s best caterer. Today, the Tuckers and their team provide top-notch catering services to clients throughout Atlanta and the surrounding areas.

SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS (3 of 3): Level Seven Facilities Services, Slow Pour Brewing Company and Because One Matters

December 12, 2020 by Mike

Gwinnett Studio

SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS (3 of 3): Level Seven Facilities Services, Slow Pour Brewing Company and Because One Matters

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Steven Tomlinson, Andrea Barclay and John Reynolds

Steven Tomlinson/Level Seven Facilities Services (Small Business Award: 25+ Employees)

Level Seven Facilities Services is a commercial and industrial cleaning company founded on the belief that integrity, a rewarding workplace culture, and consistent, exceptional service are the keys to long-term success.

John Reynolds/Slow Pour Brewing Company (Small Business Award: 6-24 Employees)

Slow Pour Brewing Company, which opened its doors in September of 2017, began as a conversation and a what-if between Marty and his brother-in-law John, and they haven’t looked back since. A gift exchange that resulted in a home-brew kit was the beginning of this adventure. While dreaming about leaving the corporate world behind, John began perfecting his recipes, and Marty began scouting for the perfect location, itching to start a brewery. The plans became real when they closed on an old garment factory just off the square in downtown Lawrenceville, Ga. John jumped in full-time learning all he could about commercial brewing, and Marty turned his attention to buildout and prep. They quickly began forming an invaluable team of partners, consultants and talented industry-savvy staff to help create, not only the first brewery in Gwinnett County, but one of the best around.

From the beautifully inviting tasting room and beer garden beckoning friends to sit and chat, to the family friendly atmosphere, Slow Pour Brewing is where people want to be. They come to enjoy delicious, innovative and original brews, laugh and play games, and make the most of every moment because that’s what counts. At Slow Pour, they believe the moment matters.

Andrea Barclay/Because One Matters (Community Contributor Recipient)

The nation’s more than 437,000 children in foster care bounce from place to place with no sense of stability or belonging. People donate toys and other items during the holidays, but most of the children’s physical and emotional needs are unmet the rest of the year. That void needs to be filled so these children can feel loved and supported all year long.

The mission of Because One Matters (a 501(c)3 nonprofit) is to positively impact the lives of children in Georgia’s foster care system by creating lasting memories, sharing love, and empowering them to flourish into adulthood by providing comfort and easing the transition into foster care; celebrating children to show them they are not forgotten while in foster care; helping to provide young adult’s graceful transition into independent living; and providing ongoing support to those in college.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: 2019 Gwinnett Chamber Small Business Award Winners (1 of 2)

November 20, 2019 by Mike

Gwinnett Studio

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: 2019 Gwinnett Chamber Small Business Award Winners (1 of 2)

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“Member Spotlight” features and highlights businesses and business leaders that are members of the Gwinnett Chamber. This month’s episode showcases three of the recent 2019 Gwinnett Small Business Award Winners.

The Gwinnett Chamber’s NEW Small Business Awards showcase those that dare to start, sustain and succeed and the community that supports them. They are the risk-takers, the problem solvers, the dreamers and the doers.

Naveed Tharwani/Gwinnett Drugs (Emerging Entrepreneur Award)

Gwinnett Drugs started out as a mom and pop pharmacy here in Lawrenceville, Georgia, by Gwinnett County natives. Our staff has achieved their dream of creating a modern, interactive pharmacy that provides a high level of quality, care and consultation to our patients. Aside from going the extra mile to ensure we keep our patients up to date and informed on their medications, Gwinnett Drugs is also one of the few sterile compounding pharmacies in the state of Georgia.

Veronica Guobadia/Care4All Children Services (Community Contributor Award)

Care4All Children Services is licensed by the State of Georgia through the Department of Human Services – Office of Regulatory Child Care (DHS – ORCC) to provide placements and social services to children in foster care. The agency holds a contract with the Office of Provider Management (OPM) and partners with the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS).

Care4All Children Services recruits, trains and recommends families to OPM for approval in order to obtain a license to foster children in their homes. Once a home is licensed and children are placed for care, Care4All provides follow up social services to ensure that the basic needs of the children and parents are met. As a Therapeutic Foster Care Agency, Care4All requires more training for parents initially and on-going. The agency also provides more support for children and caregivers. Treatment foster care is preferred over residential or group home-care because it maintains children in family settings, which in turn reduces incidences of trauma. To ensure the safety and security of children, Care4All’s intensive foster parent training includes crisis management and emergency response.

Glenn Kruse/UGA’s Small Business Development Center (Advocate Award)

The University of Georgia’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides tools, training and resources to help small businesses grow and succeed. Designated as one of Georgia’s top providers of small business assistance, the SBDC has 17 offices ranging from Rome to Valdosta to serve the needs of Georgia’s business community. Since 1977, their network of partners has helped construct a statewide ecosystem to foster the spirit, support, and success of hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs and innovators.

The Small Business Development Center, a Public Service and Outreach Extension of The University of Georgia, is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs.