Submitted by: The Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry, written by Shelli Jones
The Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry announced its finalists for the Small Business of the Year and the Large Business of the Year. Award winners will be announced at the 13th Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, November 30.
Nominations for the Small Business and Large Business of the Year awards were submitted by the public and Chamber of Commerce members in August 2017. The nominations are evaluated by the Annual Awards Committee consisting of active Chamber members who volunteer to serve on the committee. The committee determines the four finalists for the Small and Large Business of the Year. The committee visits the finalists and conduct interviews to ensure that all businesses are asked the same questions and evaluated using the same criteria. The results of the interviews are used to be the committee to vote on the winners. Votes are cast but even the committee members don’t know who the winners are. Only a few key staff members are aware of the identity of the winners.
The finalists for Small Business of the Year are:
A small business must have 20 or fewer employees and must be a Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber member to qualify.
The finalists for Large Business of the Year are:
A large business has 21 or more employees and must also be a Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber member.
The criteria for Small and Large Business of the Year is based on criteria including company management, community service and contribution exceeding the scope of the company’s mission, economic stability, ethics and integrity, growth of the company, new jobs created in the community and upward mobility for employees. Companies considered will be those who put resources and energy back into Bellingham and Whatcom County.
The Winners of the Small and Large Business of the Year, the Man and Woman of the Year, the CEO of the Year, the Young Professional of the Year, the Millie DeFord Chamber Ambassador of the Year and Tourism Business of the Year will be awarded at the Chamber’s 13th Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, November 30 at Four Points by Sheraton.
Tickets are available on the Chamber’s website.
