Several recognized with awards

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Several recognized with awards

County News

Friday, 10 December 2010 14:40

ChamberAwards04_120910-copy

News-Gazette Photo/Andrew Sullivan
Nominees for the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce business awards, including new business of the year, home-based business and small business of the year, assemble during a ceremony held Thursday afternoon in the Kissimmee Civic Center.

By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer
A promotional material company, a communication company and an automotive repair shop were the big winners Thursday at the 2010 Osceola Business of the Year Awards held in the Kissimmee Civic Center.
Sponsored by the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Council, judges sifted through 98 nominations to choose winners for Small Business of the Year; New Business of the Year and Home-based Business of the Year.
“The neatest thing about these awards is your nominated by your peers and voted on by your peers,” presenter and incoming Chairman for the Small Business Council, Brian Patterson said.
This was the highest nomination turn-out in five years, according to Wendi Jeannin, communication director for the Chamber.
“This is the time to recognize the heart and soul of our small business,” Sandy Geroux, the event's emcee and the 2009 Home-based Business of the Year winner, said.
Barker Specialty Company, which specializes in promotional materials such a pens, awards and calendars for businesses to hand out in support of their company, took home the Small Business of the Year award for 2010 after being a finalist in 2008.
Adrienne Barker, corporate vice president of the 10-year-old Celebration-based company, said winning the award will help her company grow and compete among its competition in an $18 billion industry.
“That's actually our business, to show how awards promote and acknowledge a person's hard work,” she said.
C & D Automotive Repair, based in Kissimmee, which opened in Nov. 2009, won New Business of the Year, which was a pleasant surprise for owners Charles and Diane Oskierko. Charles spent 17 years working as a car repair technician for other companies before they decided to open their shop. They currently have two technicians in house with 40 years of combined automotive repair experience and training.
“We decided the time was right to strike out on our own,” Diane Oskierko said.
The Oskierko's hope to expand their business in 2011 by hiring a third technician.
Kathy Pierson Communications won for Home-based Business of the Year, an award Pierson hopes translates into more exposure for her business and helps educate the public on what her company provides to the community.