The 16th Annual Small Business of the Year (SBY) Award Dinner was presented Friday night at the Wyndham Lisle-Chicago Hotel & Executive Meeting Center.
The stage was set with a large banner proclaiming the Centennial Celebration of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce. Spotlights were shining. Â Sounds Abound was prepared with appropriate “theme” songs to accompany the announcement of every nominee. And Mike Evans, President and CEO of the Chamber, gave a warm welcome to members and guests.
Kevin Colbert served as Master of Ceremonies, assisted by magician and comedian Blake Grigsby. Sidekick Grigsby, a 2012 graduate of Neuqua Valley High School, provided wit with a few tricks up his sleeve to keep the festivities moving and entertaining.
The SBY award is the highest entrepreneurial honor presented by the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce.  The award and its ceremony held in the spring of the year is the business community’s way of recognizing outstanding dedication and accomplishments among Chamber members.
Divided into five categories, the SBY is presented to recognize Professional, Business to Consumer, Business to Business, Emerging Business, Retail, Not-for-Profit. A special category for “Emerging Businesses” is geared for enterprises less than three years old. Members nominate one another for the awards. Once nominations are submitted, the winners are selected by the blue-ribbon committee, a panel of the previous year’s winners.
Category by category, three businesses were celebrated as the the top three nominees before the winner of the SBY in that category was announced.
For 2013, Naperville Dental Specialists & General Oral Health Care was named Professional SBY;  Players Indoor Sports, Business to Consumer – SBY; Paul Gregory Media, Business to Business SBY; Le Chocolate du Bouchard, Retail SBY; and Giving DuPage, Nonprofit Business of the Year.
Caregiver Harbor, Inc.; Ego Gym; and Primrose School at Naperville Crossings, all less than three years old, were recognized as “Emerging Businesses.”
During festivities Naperville Dental Specialists & General Oral Health Care was lauded as the 2013 Small Business of the Year. Owner and founder Dr. Anthony LaVacca was unable personally to accept the award as he had a prior speaking engagement in Wisconsin. His wife, Dr. Manal Ibrahim, accepted the first place honor for him.
2013 SBY Recipients & Runners Up / Info from the Program
• Naperville Dental Specialists & General Oral Health Care / Professional Business of the YearÂ
Naperville Dental Specialists & General Oral Health Care is multi-specialty practice offering services for pediatric, general, implant, restorative and cosmetic dentistry. Headed by owner and founder Dr. Anthony LaVacca, Naperville Dental Specialists offers a state of the art facility that is friendly, warm and inviting. Dr. LaVacca is a Board Certified Prosthodontist and is joined by five associates.
• ATI Physical Therapy / Professional
ATI Physical Therapy is a comprehensive orthopedic rehabilitation provider. ATI specializes in research-based physical therapy, work conditioning/hardening, aquatic therapy, hand/upper extremity therapy, functional capacity evaluations, sports medicine and performance, women’s health and ATI Fitness Center. ATI Physical Therapy currently has 5 clinics that operate in Naperville.
• K. Peterson Associates, Inc. / Professional
K. Peterson Associates, Inc. has been in business for 30 years, located in Naperville, IL. We are a full service Architectural firm providing expertise in the areas of Architecture, Interior Design and Space Planning. Our vast experience has included many different building types, both in residential and commercial applications.
• Players Indoor Sports / Business to Consumer – Small Business of the Year
Players Indoor Sports Center in Naperville is a destination for both children and adults to enjoy their leisure time as they gather for positive and healthy experiences in athletics, fitness, team building, special events (i.e. exhibits, shows, conventions and meetings) in a safe, protected and temperature-controlled environment.
• Aurelio’s Pizza / Business to Consumer
Since 1959 Aurelio’s Pizza has been a well-loved family pizzeria — famous for its signature sauce. It’s rated Excellent in Zagat’s and voted Top 10 Pizza – Chicago Magazine & Chicago Sun Times. With dine-in, carryout, delivery and catering, Naperville locations include Hobson West and newly opened Springbrook Square.
• Brighton Car Wash & Detail Center / Business to Consumer
Brighton Car Wash and Detail Center opened to the public December 5, 1995. Since this day, Brighton Car Wash has strived to do one thing; give the highest quality service all of the time! 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed! For a better car wash & greener, brighter tomorrow!
• Paul Gregory Media / Business to Business of the Year
Paul Gregory Media helps businesses stand out in a crowded marketplace through award-winning branding, marketing and web design. With extensive experience in technology, business and marketing coupled with extreme design savvy, PGM implements strategic marketing programs across a variety of mediums and technologies – something few competitors can match. This is the year of double numbers for PGM. 6 years in business; 12 websites launched in the last 6 months; 24% gross sales increase over last year; and 48 national design awards accepted. It’s not just about making clients look great… PGM dedicates themselves to the absolute success of their client’s businesses.
• Sequoia General Contracting Corp. / Business to Business
Sequoia General Contracting Corp. is a commercial construction manager and general contractor. Sequoia provides professional construction services with the highest level of integrity and customer service. We work on all types of projects, including medical and dental facilities, complex additions, commercial build-out, interior remodeling and ground-up construction.
• Design & Promote / Business to BusinessÂ
Design & Promote is a full-service web design & internet marketing firm in Naperville, IL. We provide visually engaging, high performance websites that businesses are proud to stand behind. With over 10 years in SEO expertise, we also help all businesses reach their highest potential in the search engines.
• Le Chocolate du Bouchard / Retail Business of the Year
Much more than just a chocolate shop, Le Chocolat du Bouchard additionally features a Patisserie, Dessert Cafe, Espresso Bar, Party Room, Gift Shop, and of course chocolate! With one of the largest selections in America, we specialize in gourmet chocolates from around the world. We have also developed our own private label line for National distribution.
• Twisted Olive Imports / Retail
Twisted Olive owners Mary and Scott Shearer offer a warm welcome, samples and a presentation on their products: highest quality extra virgin olive oils from around the world, exquisite balsamic vinegars from Moderna, Italy, craft beers and ciders, fine wines and other gourmet items. A cozy seating area invites visitors to relax.
• Wannemaker’s Home & Garden Center / Retail
Wannemaker’s, family owned and operated for over 40 years, is a full service retail home and garden center focused on customer service and quality selection. Wannemaker’s has built a brand focused on the customer and the community. The foundation of our success is built upon our unwavering dedication to providing the most satisfying shopping and delivery experience.
• Giving DuPage / Nonprofit Business of the Year
Giving DuPage exists to promote giving and volunteering. Through days of service, an annual giving guide, an interactive website, a 5K Human Race and a board matching program called Board², Giving DuPage provides year-round opportunities for businesses and individuals to learn about ways to share their time, talent and resources with non-profit organizations serving our community.
• Community Career Center / Nonprofit
The Community Career Center empowers jobseekers to achieve long term self-sufficiency by providing training and resources needed to conduct a successful job search in a supportive environment while also addressing practical and personal aspects of unemployment. CCC works to raise awareness of employment issues and help employers meet workforce needs.
• Teen Parent Connection / Nonprofit
Teen Parent Connection is the only nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, in DuPage County providing comprehensive programs and services related to teenage pregnancy, parenting and prevention. The mission of Teen Parent Connection is to serve the community through education on the realities and responsibilities of teenage pregnancy and through long-term assistance to adolescent parents for their development of self-esteem, parenting skills, and empowerment towards self-sufficiency.Â
Caregiver Harbor, Inc.; Ego Gym; and Primrose School at Naperville Crossings, all less than three years old, were recognized as “Emerging Businesses.”
Other nominees were: Dr. Kathy Borchardt, Psy.D., P.C.; Â Cedric Spring & Associates; Floral Events; Â E2 Services; Â Grunyk & Associates, P.C.; Â Lang Property Management; Â Northern Illinois Food Bank; Â Paul Gregory Media; Â ReStore of Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity; ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation; Â United Home Loans;Western DuPage Special Recreation Association.
The Anderson Family / 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award
In addition, the Chamber honored the Anderson Family of entrepreneurs with its 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Anderson family has been in Naperville since the 1870’s. The first business, W.W. Wickel Pharmacy, evolved into Oswald’s, and still operates a thriving business today, now located in Naperville Plaza.
Anderson’s Bookshop, first known as Paperback Paradise, has been open since 1964 in downtown Naperville.
The latest venture, Two Doors East, featuring many Naperville novelties and gifts, opened several years ago on the same block as Anderson’s Bookshop.
Tres, Bill, Becky and Peter Anderson are the current generation running each of the family’s independent businesses in Naperville and surrounding communities. Each generation has passed down the family tradition of entrepreneurship and ownership, with independence, dedication, success and expansion.
Becky Anderson graciously accepted the award on behalf of the Anderson family.
Past recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award have been Dorcas Pearcy (1998), Owen “Dutch” Beidelman (1999), Harold Moser (2000), Larry Gregory (2001), Rita Harvard (2002), Mary Lou Cowlishaw (2003), Bill Brestal (2004), Brian Schultz In Memoriam (2005), Ed Channell (2006), Carmen DiGiovine (2007), Frank Slocumb (2008), Raymond Jones (2009), Kenneth Packer (2010), Bev Patterson Frier (2011) and Tim West (2012).
Emcee Kevin Colbert is owner of Colbert Custom Framing, recipient of the 2002 Small Business of the Year.
The Wyndham Lisle – Chicago Hotel & Executive Meeting Center is located at 3000 Warrenville Road in Lisle.
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