Five Tarrant County Enterprises Receive
“Rising Star” Small Business of the Year Awards
Five successful Tarrant County enterprises received the 2005 “Rising Star” Small Business of the Year Award from the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. The annual awards were presented at a March 31 luncheon that celebrated the importance of small businesses to the local and national economy.
Recipients were categorized by number of employees and judged on business growth and performance, sound business strategies and practices, customer service strategies, business challenges, unique and innovative approaches, and community involvement.
The winners are:
Emerging Business – Colonial Health Group, physician recruiting
1-10 Employees – Best Used Trucks, retail and wholesale pre-owned trucks and trailers
11-50 Employees – Pulliam Pools, full-service swimming pool contractor
51-100 Employees – Diamond H Recognition, corporate employee recognition items
101-250 Employees – Southwest Office Systems, Inc., document communications systems
The recipients were chosen from a field of 137 nominees, narrowed to 35 applicants. Each finalist from the applicants was judged by a committee of business professionals who are members of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. David Minor, director of TCU’s Neeley Entrepreneurship Program, said he was impressed with the quality of applications in this year’s competition and with the expertise of the business owners.
“These businesses have shown a great deal of tenacity and creativity in a tough economy,” said Minor. “They have put forth the effort in the areas of planning, budget controls and culture that sustain a successful entrepreneurial venture.”
The 2005 “Rising Star” awards program was presented by Citizens National Bank. Sponsors were TCU Neeley School of Business, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Advantage Rent-a-Car, Pro Staff, Fort Worth Business Press, and Roundtree Advertising.
Approximately 90 percent of the Fort Worth Chamber’s membership is made up of small businesses with fewer than 100 employees. Go to www.fortworthchamber.com to see profiles and photos of all the award winners, plus best practices presentations of finalists, and listing of all applicants and nominees.
