The employees sitting at the Pasco Vision Clinic table shared smiles, fist pumps and a few hugs as they realized their business had won the 2008 Small Business of the Year award Wednesday night.
"This is quite an honor, to be recognized by other small-business owners," said Cory Manley, CEO of the clinic as he and his colleagues accepted the award.
A roomful of about 500 business people couldn't help but hoot, holler and applaud during the 2008 Mid-Columbia Small Business Awards Banquet at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick, during which 21 nominees were recognized and four received awards.
Winners were chosen by a panel of seven judges, who awarded points based on each of the nominees' applications, mainly in the categories of employee, customer and community relations.
The Three Rivers Alliance of Chambers coordinated the 13th annual awards committee.
The Small Business of the Year award winners include:
w Gold: Pasco Vision Clinic P.S. Provides routine and medical eye care and vision therapy. CEO is Cory W. Manley, secretary is Gerald L. Wodtli. Staffed by four optometric physicians and 22 employees. Open since 1969. Nominated by Gerri A. Good, senior employee and Linsey Craghill, clinic director.
w Silver: Randolph Construction Services, Pasco. Provides construction and design services. Owned by Khristina L. Judy and Lori A. Cook. Staffs 20 to 30 employees. In business for 26 years. Nominated by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
w Bronze: Salon Monroe, Kennewick. Provides hair and spa services. Owned by Jamie and Jana Monroe. Staffed by 12 employees (9.5 full time) and 10 independent contractors. Open since October 2006. Nominated by Jamie Monroe and Carmen Stafford.
w Micro-Business (for a business with fewer than 10 full-time employees): networkTask.com, Kennewick. Provides a variety of services, including computer networking and repair and graphic design. Owned by Craig Sutton, Aaron W. McCall and Robert Marple Jr. Staffed by seven full-time and four part-time employees. Open for three years. Nominated by the West Richland Area Chamber of Commerce.
The winners had impressive rsums, Johnson said.
The Pasco Vision Clinic features a room designed just for kids, complete with a stuffed animal waiting in the chair, Johnson said.
Employees at networkTask.com use ergonomic chairs and monitors, while staff at Salon Monroe use their fingerprints to unlock entrances, he said.
Randolph Construction Services Inc. has a motto of walking away from every job as proud as possible, Johnson said.
"They are doing everything right," he said.
All four contribute to myriad community groups and service organizations, as well.
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