Awards Honor Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs

By Tim Richardson

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Loudoun business leaders recognized small businesses and entrepreneurs Wednesday evening at an annual awards ceremony.

The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce honored the businesses at its 14th annual Small Business Awards ceremony at the Hilton Washington Dulles Airport. Chamber President Tony Howard said the event, which drew about 500 people, was to honor entrepreneurs in Loudoun who took risks to build their business.

"There are many great small businesses in Loudoun County," he said.

A Chamber of Commerce selection committee received 255 nominations, then judged the businesses based on eight categories to narrow the field down to 31 businesses. To be nominated, a business must have revenues of $4 million or less each year, 25 or fewer employees and be in business at least one year.

The businesses didn't have to be members of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce.

The Small Business of the Year award went to Dulles Golf & Sports Park Center. The Entrepreneur of the Year award went to Catherine Thomas of Kinetix Technology.

Other small business award winners are as follows:

- Agri/Equine Business: Fox Chase Farm

- Home-Based Business: Lighthouse Concepts

- Product of the Year: Let's Dish

- Retail Business: Flintstone Marble & Granite

- Service Business: TAH-DA! Inc.

- Technology Business: Invisible Towers

Howard said Loudoun is home to 10,000 businesses of various sizes. The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce is the largest chamber of commerce in Northern Virginia.

Tagged: Chamber of Commerce

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