The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated the 25th year of the Small Business Awards with a silver salute to all previous recipients of the awards and this year’s honorees.
During the Convention Center luncheon the Chamber’s Small Business Council presented awards to Thinking Media, GenTech Construction and COMTRUST Federal Credit Union. The Chattanooga Community Kitchen was honored as the non-profit agency of the year.
“I’m honored to lead an organization that understands that small business has a big impact,” Chamber President and CEO Tom Edd Wilson said. “Through the Chamber you connect with other businesses, with information and with public policy issues that affect your company. With over 1,000 people in this room and thousands more visiting the Business EXPO, today’s events are a great example of how the Chamber provides opportunities for you to make the best business connections around.”
Mr. Wilson pointed out that small businesses create two out of every three new jobs in the U.S., employ 50 percent of all private sector workers and make up more than 99.7 percent of all employers.
“That’s an impressive contribution and the Chamber is pleased to give you -- the small businesses of Chattanooga -- this silver salute on the 25th anniversary of this event,” he said.
Ronelle Sellers, chair of the Small Business Awards Committee, pointed out that the awards ceremony represents a partnership between the Chamber and a committee of volunteers, with a different volunteer chairing the event each year.
“This milestone is testament to the Chamber’s commitment to small business and to the dedication of the individuals in the business community who have organized and brought this program to fruition for 25 years,” Mr. Sellers said.
The celebration has grown dramatically over the years. Until 2000 it was a dinner event recognizing only one small business. Under the direction of Robert Michaels, event chair in 2000, the program was changed to a luncheon, and businesses in three categories were recognized. A video presentation on all the finalists was also added that year. Later, the planning committee started recognizing a non-profit.
“The Small Business Awards Luncheon also gained stature when it began being held in conjunction with the Chattanooga Business EXPO, the city’s largest business trade show with more than 200 booths,” Mr. Sellers said.
The 2007 EXPO, held in the hall adjacent to the luncheon hall, featured new products and services and six free business seminars.
Thinking Media: Winner in the 1-20 Employees Category
Small Business Award winners in the 1-20 Employees category, Dane and Sheila Boyington strive to achieve an equal level of satisfaction among the customers and employees of Thinking Media, a company which has gained a national reputation for its workforce development and character education products.
The couple met at the University of Florida while studying chemical engineering. Ms. Boyington went on to acquire a master’s in environmental engineering, and Dr. Boyington earned his doctorate in chemical engineering. However, the two professionals quit their jobs in the late 1990s and started their own business -- one of only two certified curriculum programs for workforce development. The couple spent two years developing Thinking Media and launched the business in 1997.
Ms. Boyington said she enjoys being part of a team that has a positive impact on people who are looking for jobs. More than 2,500 organizations, including hundreds of colleges, workforce agencies, school districts and Fortune 500 companies, use the company’s KeyTrain®, a comprehensive system providing curriculum for ACT’s WorkKeys® employment system. The system helps individuals learn, practice and demonstrate workplace skills. Through such products, Thinking Media helps workforces become more attractive to incoming companies, Dr. Boyington said.
“It’s rewarding to hear stories about people gaining self-respect and confidence by using our products,” he said. “It’s amazing to see how we change lives.”
A major milestone for the business occurred in 1999 when South Carolina adopted a statewide program using KeyTrain. This was the company’s first statewide contract. Since then, Thinking Media has amassed about 14 other state contracts. Dr. Boyington said he hopes that number will double within the next five years.
“We’ve been so successful because of not viewing things as obstacles,” Ms. Boyington said. “We have a strong work ethic and a passion for life, and we also have been fortunate to have such a great staff that helps us offer constant great customer service.”
Because of its exemplary customer service, Thinking Media is featured in a class about taking care of clients at a South Carolina school.
On top of all this, the couple said they credit their success to the fact that they love what they do. Mrs. Boyington said that they do not “compartmentalize their lives.” As her partner put it, “When you work so long to develop something, it becomes a part of you.”
GenTech Construction: Winner, 21-50 Employees Category
Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Paul Vaughn became a general contractor over 20 years ago. At that time he had no idea that he would one day be co-owner of GenTech Construction, a remarkably successful company.
GenTech got its start in 2002, when Mr. Vaughn, his friend Duane Horton and Mike McGauley of Fidelity Trust joined forces.
It took courage and determination for Mr. Vaughn and Mr. Horton to embark on the road to entrepreneurship, but they believed that it was worth the risk. The company started as a $50,000 investment each on the part of Vaughn and McGauley, with Mr. Horton contributing $25,000 worth of computers and software equipment.
MR. Vaughn said the partners’ main concern was having the capital to maintain the company. In essence, their dreams were large and funds were limited. However, with the support of family, long-time friends and business connections, the company made an impressive launch and has experienced steady growth ever since.
GenTech’s projects include Sports Barn North, Mulberry Park Residential Community in Collegedale and Longstreet’s Charge, a 100-year-old Chickamauga, GA building which has been transformed into condominiums.
GenTech’s first big break came in 2004 when Siskin Hospital offered the company a $10 million job. Up to that point, Mr. Vaughn said they had brought in about $3 million per year.
“We really appreciate our relationship with Siskin,” Mr. Vaughn said. “They gave us a great opportunity and are really supportive of small businesses like ours. In fact, all the people I’ve worked with in the past 25 years have been great.
“Some of the biggest supporters have been Lawson Electric, who held over invoices for us for a few months so that we didn’t have to worry too much about bills. And the company who does our accounting – Henderson, Hutcherson and McCullough – has been instrumental in guiding us. First Tennessee Bank has also really stepped forward to help us with financing.”
That kind of support has enabled Mr. Vaughn to build a company which is expected to exceed $40 million by 2008. The business also offers its employees steady income and increasing benefits. “The look of appreciation on our employees’ faces is what I enjoy most about my job,” he said.
COMTRUST Federal Credit Union: Winner, 51-200 Employees Category
If anyone knows about working toward a goal for a long time, it’s Johnny Phillips. He started with the COMTRUST Federal Credit Union in 1969 as a part-time employee and worked his way through the ranks to become president of the company in 1986.
“I guess I was groomed throughout the years to take the job,” he said. “It has been a fun time and a very fulfilling experience because we’re now serving the financial needs of more than 40,000 members.”
COMTRUST boasts assets of more than $264.5 million and maintains nine locations in five states. The organization is a member-owned and member-operated entity, with its board of directors elected by the membership.
Mr. Phillips said his goals for the company are to continue to grow and add more branches and to attain $300 million in assets within the next several years. COMTRUST, Mr. Phillips said, would like to become the primary financial institution for every member, provide a full range of financial products and services and promote savings with competitive rates.
“We are extremely proud of the Bonus Dividend we have paid our members for 10 consecutive years,” said Mr. Phillips. “This money is in addition to the competitive rates already paid on all the members’ accounts.
“We give our members first-class, top-notch products and services at a very competitive price,” said Mr. Phillips. “Our website says it best – ‘Our primary purpose is to serve our members’ best interests by providing competitive dividends on savings, low interest rates on loans and numerous other financial services and products. We are here to help you find ways to achieve your financial goals.’ ”
Mr. Phillips said that although COMTRUST is the second leading credit union in Chattanooga, the company strives to keep a small business atmosphere and attitude. “We emphasize to our employees that we work for our customers,” he said. “We never forget that.”
Chattanooga Community Kitchen: Non-profit Agency of the Year
Like the other award recipients, the Chattanooga Community Kitchen also works to provide excellent customer service to its clients -- some of the most disadvantaged members of the community. According to its mission statement, the non-profit organization strives to lessen the struggle and despair of the homeless and needy without expectation of recompense but out of love and compassion for humankind.
“We try to show them they’re God’s creation and just as important as anyone else,” Executive Director Charlie Hughes said. “Their relationship to society is key.”
Founded in 1982 as a soup kitchen in a church basement, the Community Kitchen provides many services including a meals program, clothing giveaway and laundry service, overnight shelters, transitional housing and employment and life skills training.
Mr. Hughes said that to reflect the changing needs of the homeless population, the Community Kitchen has immediate goals to provide a day center to offer refuge from the elements, respite care for homeless persons released from the hospital and a 24-hour shelter for individuals who work second- and third-shift jobs and therefore cannot make the 6 p.m. curfew for the overnight shelter.
“We have people who were once homeless come back and volunteer,” said Mr. Hughes, who has been at Community Kitchen for 18 years. “We have others now working on the board of directors, which essentially means they’re my boss. They are all proof that people can do what they want to do despite their current situations. We just try to help them realize they are capable of achieving their goals.
“One of the biggest issues we have is raising people’s self-esteem. We want them to think outside of being homeless and consider what’s the best life they can have and not just what’s the best life they can have on the streets.”
The way to success, Mr. Hughes said, is to constantly evaluate the needs of Community Kitchen clients and the availability of funding. Currently, the government is allocating substantial funds toward permanent housing. The Community Kitchen is exploring the possibility of receiving a portion of those federal funds. Hughes said that $1.3 million of the Kitchen’s $1.6 million budget comes from private donors.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to the City of Chattanooga,” Mr. Hughes said. For 25 years, we have existed because the people of Chattanooga believe in what we're doing and support us.”