SOO Chamber Seeking Nominations for Outstanding Business Achievement Awards
#LSN_Econ deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, November 3rd, 2017
Sault Ste. Marie - October 19, 2017 (LSN) The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce (SSMCOC) is pleased to announce that it is now accepting nominations for its Outstanding Business Achievement Awards to be given out at its annual Awards Gala in January.
Jason Naccarato, President of the Sault Chamber says that “the annual business awards are about recognizing local businesses that strive to be innovative and find new ways to engage their customers, who have adapted unique business practices that set them apart from their competition and who have become ‘outstanding’ in their individual business sectors.”
The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, November 3rd, 2017. Anyone wishing to submit a local Chamber-member business for nomination can visit www.ssmcoc.com for full details. The nomination can be completed online at www.ssmcoc.com/membership/outstanding-business-achievement-award-nominations
This year, the Chamber of Commerce has made several changes to its traditional award categories. Over the past several months, the Chamber and its Outstanding Business Achievement Awards Judging Committee explored new award categories with respect to the different sizes, sectors, budgets and areas of expertise comprising the 700 plus businesses that make up the Chamber membership.
The Chamber’s Outstanding Business Achievement Awards recognize businesses that have made significant strides in overall growth and success, safety, diversification and accessibility, employee relations, customer service, innovation and exporting. Additionally, the Chamber will recognize the successes and community contributions made by several individual business leaders.
This year’s award categories include:
- Indigenous Business of the Year Award
- Customer First Award – Individual
- Customer First Award - Business, Non-Profit or Agency
- Employer of the Year Award
- Downtown Business of the Year Award
- Business of the Year Award (3 categories: up to 9 employees, 10 to 25 employees, 26+ employees)
- Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award
- Safe Work, Sound Business Award
- Community First Award (3 categories: up to 9 employees, 10 to 25 employees, 26+ employees)
- Diversity Award
- Community Non-Profit Business of the Year Award
- Leader in Accessibility Award
- Innovation Award
- Rising Star New Business Award
- Beyond Borders Award (2 categories: up to 49 employees, 50+ employees)
- Skipper Manzzutti Award for Business Achievement
- Paul Dalseg Community Achievement Award
Recipients will be presented with their awards on Saturday, January 20th, 2018 at the Chamber’s Outstanding Business Achievement Awards Gala.
Rory Ring, SSMCOC CEO notes that the nominations for the Outstanding Business Achievement Awards are being launched in conjunction with Small Business Week, which runs October 16th to 20th. “Small businesses make up 98% of the province’s businesses and employ more than 3 million Ontarians. More than 2/3 of private sector workers work for a small business, says Ring. “The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce recognizes that small businesses are the backbone of our local economy and would like to encourage members of the community and other businesses to take a few minutes to nominate a business that they feel is genuinely deserving of an award for their efforts and contributions.”
The Chamber’s Small Business Week campaign asserts that “Small Business is Too Big To Ignore.”
About the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce
The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of 700 plus business and agencies in Sault Ste. Marie and has been serving the needs of this community since 1889. The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce will lead the way as the voice of business, advancing economic prosperity for its membership and the business community. Learn more about the SSMCOC at www.ssmcoc.com
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