For Immediate Release

Champions of Small Business Honored at Chambers 201l Small Business Awards Celebration 26th Annual Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison Countys Small Business Awards Celebration highlights areas top small businesses, non-profit organizations, young professional of the year and executive leadership award
Celebrating the champions of small business in the Huntsville/Madison County community, the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County held its annual tribute to small businesses and their impact on the local economy at the 2011 Small Business Awards Celebration Thursday, Sept. 1 at the Von Braun Center. The sold-out event, presented by Regions Bank, featured more than 100 contenders among more than 400 nominees. Of the contenders, 18 finalists were selected by an independent, anonymous panel in six different categories before the winners were announced. Chamber Board Chair Charlie Kettle, President/CEO of First Commercial Bank, told more than 1,200 attendees that the success of small business is critical to the local and the national economy. Small businesses are the backbone of our nations economy, Kettle said, pointing to statistics from the U.S. Small Business Administration showing that small firms represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms in the U.S. Small businesses also employ more than half of all private sector employees in the U.S., Kettle said, adding that small businesses represent more than 95 percent of the membership of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. So we honor you as the champions of our local, state and national economy. 2011 Small Business Award Finalists and Winners Government Contracting Services Avion Solutions, Inc. - WINNER Pinnacle Solutions, Inc. PeopleTec, Inc. Business/Professional Services Cyn Sheas Complete Catering WINNER BlueCreek Investment Partners Alabama Foundation Specialist Technology Services GATR Technologies WINNER Digium, Inc. Hawk Enterprises
Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County 225 Church Street Huntsville, AL 35801 256.535.2000 Fax 256.535.2015 www.HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com

Non-Profit Choose Life of North Alabama WINNER National Children's Advocacy Center HEALS, Inc. Young Professional of the Year Natalie Hasley Bama Jammer, Inc. WINNER Ginger Harper Iberia Bank Kim Lewis PROJECTXYZ Russell Brown Executive Leadership Award Paul Gierow GATR Technologies WINNER Miranda Bouldin LogiCore Corporation Dr. Jonn Kim GaN Corporation Edward Egros and Christine Killimayer of the WHNT News 19 Sports Team served as emcees for the event.

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Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County 225 Church Street Huntsville, AL 35801 256.535.2000 Fax 256.535.2015 www.HuntsvilleAlabamaUSA.com