Sparkman Law Firm has been named finalist for Small Business of the Year by the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce.
The press release from the Chamber reads:
January 17, 2014
Congratulations to the finalists for the 2014 South Tampa Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Awards!
Contact:
Kelly Flannery, Director of Events & Membership
(813) 637-0156 ; office@southtampachamber.org
Congratulations to the finalists for the 2014 South Tampa Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Awards! A call for nominations was extended to all South Tampa Chamber of Commerce members, with one year or more of membership, this past fall. The below list of finalists were chosen and announced on January 13th. Winners in each category will be announced at the Inaugural Awards Gala on January 31st at the Quorum Hotel-Tampa, presented by Tampa Bay Times and Shining Starr Insurance. Thank you to supporting sponsors MamaRazzi foto and Achieva Credit Union.
S.C.O.R.E was chosen to review and rank all nominees after a series of interviews. With over thirty plus volunteers in the Hillsborough Chapter formed in 1964, S.C.O.R.E. national operates with funding provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration. S.C.O.R.E. members are volunteers who give of their time and expertise to help local business people as a way of giving back to the business community. For the second round of interviews S.C.O.R.E. judges were given the opportunity to tour each business selected as a finalist.
EMERGING BUSINESS FINALISTS:
Refresh Your Nest Cleaning Services is a woman veteran-owned residential cleaning company that has been in business since 2012. Julie McAdoo, owner, has plans for doubling her client base and expanding into St. Pete and Brandon.
Suncoast Displays & Graphics opened in 2010 as a full service trade show, exhibit, event and graphic design company. Carole Dale, President, says the company has a passion for creating trade show exhibits that are unique and memorable. Carol added that here reaction to finding Suncoast Displays was a finalist for the Business of the Year Award was, “YES! Awesome!!! I’m especially excited for our team who has worked hard day in and day out, taking great care of our customers and taking pride in being the best we can be in the trade show industry. We are also very honored to be recognized by the STCOC. We have made some great business contacts thanks to the Chamber events we have attended.”
Yanger Law Group, PA opened in 2011, with Bill Yanger as President, in South Tampa as a firm focusing its practice on small business support, from simple contracts and corporate formations to complex commercial litigation.
SMALL BUSINESS FINALISTS:
Edible Arrangements opened in South Tampa in 2006 with Brian Tolberg, former professional baseball player at the helm. They provide a variety of fruit and chocolate dipped fruit arrangements, teddy bears, and balloons for your gift giving needs. Owner Brian Tolberg said, “It was truly an honor and a very humbling experience to be mentioned for Business of the Year. We try to put out a superior product and great customer service backing it up on a daily basis, and it has increased our year-end sales 7 years running.”
Brian added, “Being a Chamber member (although I have been lax in attending meetings due to parenthood, opening up a new business!) opens up a wonderful lifeline to the community and its businesses, where everyone is there to see the success of each other take place. I thoroughly enjoy being a part of it.”
MamaRazzi foto, founded in 2009, specializes in providing photographic coverage of Conventions, Corporate Parties, Ribbon Cuttings, Award Ceremonies, Galas, Grand Openings and Fundraising events. Penny Rogo says they focus on the needs of the client and provide consistent quality. Penny Rogo, owner of MamaRazzi said “All of the Mamas are thrilled to be selected as a finalist for the STCOC BOTY awards. We have all worked very hard to grow the business to where it is today and we contribute much of that growth to our involvement with the South Tampa Chamber. The relationships and ultimately the friendships formed within the Chamber have been invaluable, personally and professionally.”
Sparkman & Sparkman PA, which began in 2006, provides legal representation for family law and personal injury cases. Shazia Sparkman looks forward to continued growth, with a personalized commitment to their clients, and philanthropic passions and commitments to the serve the community.
MEDIUM BUSINESS FINALISTS:
Bay Area Plumbing is a family owned business that has been in the Tampa Area for 17 years, growing from a one man shop to 10 employees. Mike Williams, President, strives to build an honest and courteous relationship with the entire bay area community. Mike says, “The South Tampa Chamber has helped me to stay focused on networking and establishing new contacts in the business community, to introduce my company with other members and learn about theirs. I’ve met interesting people and attend events with great speakers that are both educational and entertaining. We’ve had great success in business referrals that have helped our company grow and, in return, have been able to refer other members business.”
Infinity Computer Solutions began in 2004 in response to a market in need of Technical advice and services. They provide IT and Server support, Server Migrations/Installations, Server Virtualization, Web Services, VOIP Telephony and Hosted Solutions.
LARGE BUSINESS FINALISTS:
Answer First Communications is a customer service solutions provider specializing in answering services, call center solutions, messaging services and inbound email processing that began in 1985. “Our South Tampa Chamber of Commerce membership has provided us with many unique networking and marketing opportunities as well as an additional avenue for serving our community; we’re looking forward to many years of partnership,” said Teri Erickson, Business Development Coordinator.
Express Oil Change & Service Center and Scott Webster began operations in Valrico in 2006. In 2011, the South Tampa location was opened. They are working towards continued growth in the South Tampa community.
Gulf Shore Bank was established in 2007. They are a locally owned and managed, full service bank offering traditional banking products and service to the small business and professional market. They currently have two Tampa locations and are committed to becoming the best in class community bank.
Two Men and a Truck, a family run business, is a full service local and long distance moving company that began in Tampa in 1992. They have grown from 1 truck to over 26 trucks and 60 employees. “We were already pretty pumped up about getting selected for the interview process. When we received word that we had been chosen as a finalist, I closed my office door and jumped up and down several times,” said owner Jeffrey J. Knowles.
