Small businesses are the engine that keeps a large city like Naperville running, so it's only fitting that they are honored every year.
The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce recently awarded six local businesses during the 16th Annual Small Business of the Year Awards Friday, May 10 at the Wyndham in Lisle.
Chamber President and CEO Mike Evans congratulated all of the six winners as well as the more than 20 nominees.
“The chamber thanks and congratulates this year’s overall winner, Naperville Dental Specialists, and all of the category winners for their hard work, innovation and outstanding service,” Evans said in a statement. “I also want to acknowledge that all of our nominees are great businesses in their own right, and congratulate them on all of their success.”
The awards were divided into six categories with one overall winner: Business-to-Business, Business-to-Consumer, Professional, Not-for-Profit, Retail and Excellence in Business. Chamber members submitted nominations and the winners were chosen by a panel of previous winners, according to the chamber.
The winners of this year’s Small Business of the Year Awards:
Business-to-Business: Paul Gregory Media
Business-to-Consumer: Players Indoor Sports
Professional: Naperville Dental Specialists and General Oral Health Care
Not-for-Profit: Giving DuPage
Retail: Le Chocolat du Bouchard
Naperville Dental Specialists and General Oral Health Care is the overall Small Business of the Year winner.
During the ceremony, longtime Naperville business owners the Anderson family (owners of Oswald’s Pharmacy, Anderson’s Bookshop and Two Doors East) were also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
“For five generations the Anderson family and their businesses have been a Naperville institution. The current generation - Bill, Becky, Tres and Peter – demonstrate the strength of family-owned businesses and dedication to the community through volunteerism,” Evans said in a statement. “The care they have for their costumers is why they thrive in competitive industries. The chamber would like to thank all 29 of this year’s nominees, panel judges and attendees for a very successful 16th anniversary event."
For more information on the Small Business of the Year Awards or the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, visit www.naperville.net.