The three finalists will go through an interview process to decide the winner. The winner will be announced at the Annual Awards Banquet on January 27, 2012 at UCO.

            The Small Business of the Year Award honors businesses that have made significant growth and outstanding contributions to the economy and the overall progress of the Edmond community. Applicants were judged on business growth and performance, business strategies and innovation, business challenges and competitiveness and community involvement and contribution.

Small Group – Architects

The Small Group has been in business since 2000 and has been a member of the Chamber since 2002. They were founded on the principle of providing creative building design services by a talented staff of professional architects and interior designers on projects located in Edmond, Oklahoma City, the state of Oklahoma and throughout the central region of the United States. This company understands that architectural firms succeed through “word of mouth” and reputation,

 attributes which are earned through the consistent production of quality work and a high level of client service. To achieve this goal, The Small Group searches out the highest quality staff and allow them to grow expanding responsibilities to all aspects of the practice.

Evans & Davis Law Firm

 Evans & Davis began business in central and western Oklahoma in 2002, with their main office in Nichols Hills Plaza. The firm moved to downtown Edmond in 2007 and since that time they have broadened their practice throughout Oklahoma. In addition, the Firm has recently opened a satellite office at Highland Park in Dallas, Texas to better serve the growing number of clients in the Texas market. Evans & Davis has been a member of the Chamber since moving to Edmond in 2007. The Firm’s vision is to operate and maintain the classical sense and feel of a small business. The business is currently finalizing plans to expand their Edmond offices in order to accommodate their ever increasing need of operating space as the Firms grows.    

Results Fitness and Nutrition Center

Results Fitness and Nutrition Center opened for business in 2003 and has been a Chamber member since. The concept of Results is to educate the public with College Degreed, Nationally Certified Trainers. At the end of 2007 the business took the opportunity to expand and added child care, tanning, supplements and group exercise. This contributed to a 4.9% revenue growth. Results will continue to promote knowledge based training and programs to allow for future growth. The business believes they have done this through corporate wellness, youth programs, personal training, expert columns, radio shows and speaking engagements.

There were a record number of over 70 nominees for Bank of Oklahoma Small Business of the Year for 2011.

The Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce is the voice for business. Established in 1907, we are an 1100 member organization working together to create a strong local economy and to promote the community. The Edmond Chamber provides networking opportunities and business contacts for our members and represents business interests to government.  For information about the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce, please visit our website at www.edmondchamber.com or call 405-341-2808.  Media inquiries should contact Kristen Figart, Coordinator – Communications, at 405-341-2808 or email at kfigart@edmondchamber.com.

            Several awards will be given out including: Bank of Oklahoma’s Small Business of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Mercy Health’s Ambassador of the Year, Coppermark Bank’s Woman of the Year, OU Medical Center Edmond’s  Tayo Fichtl Young Professional of the Year, Citizen of the Year and the Chairman’s Award.

website at www.edmondchamber.com.

The Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce is the voice for business. We are a hundred year-old, 1100 member organization working together to create a strong local economy and to promote the community. The Edmond Chamber provides networking opportunities and business contacts for our members and represents business interests to government.  For information about the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce, please visit our website at www.edmondchamber.com or call 405-341-2808.  Media inquiries should contact Kristen Figart, Director – Communications, at 405-341-2808 or email at kfigart@edmondchamber.com.

“The Edmond Public Schools are critical to our future and passage of the 35.5 million dollar bond issue is critical to keep our school system moving forward to meet the needs of a growing population,” said Dr. Myron Pope, Chairman of the Board of the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce. “We urge those who live in the areas served by the Edmond Public Schools to vote on November 8, 2011,” concluded Pope.

Construction of a new elementary school will help meet the needs of a growing population; improvements at existing schools will make teaching more effective and expansion of technology helps the schools keep pace with changing teaching methods…all important to a successful school system.

Details on the bond issue can be found at www.edmondschools.net.

The Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce is the voice for business. We are a hundred year-old, 1100 member organization working together to create a strong local economy and to promote the community. The Edmond Chamber provides networking opportunities and business contacts for our members and represents business interests to government.  For information about the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce, please visit our website at www.edmondchamber.com or call 405-341-2808.  Media inquiries should contact Kristen Figart, Coordinator – Communications, at 405-341-2808 or email at kfigart@edmondchamber.com.

“The Women’s Conference not only offers an opportunity to hone your business skills, it’s also a great opportunity to network and connect with local business women who are experiencing the same struggles and success.” said Whitney Williams, 2011 Women’s Leadership Conference Chair. 

The keynote will begin at 11:30a.m. and will feature HGTV Design Star® Fan Favorite and Edmond resident, Kellie Clements. Clements came from a family of artist which made choosing interior design an easy choice. Clements attended University of Central Arkansas where she graduated in 2001 with an Interior Design degree and then relocated to Oklahoma. She is a wife and a mother that has a love for design that goes much deeper than paint on the walls. Clements will discuss her experience on Design Star as well as her journey in becoming an independent entrepreneur while starting her own business. 

Registration will begin at 8:00a.m.  The conference will start with a general session at 8:30a.m. called “Networking: It’s More Than Just Saying ‘Hi’” – Speaker- Anita Kelley, Anita Kelley Consulting.  There will be two breakout sessions at 9:30 and 10:30a.m.  Ladies will have the opportunity to choose between two sessions during each breakout time.  At 9:30 a.m., sessions offered will be “Managing the Stress of the Holidays” – Speaker Carla McAuliffe, Edmond Family Counseling or “The Truth about Money, Women and Relationships” – Speaker Lynn Roberts, Mass Mutual Financial.  At 10:30 a.m. sessions offered will be “How to Negotiate” – Speaker: Kathy Wallis or “Life Interrupted…Dealing with Changes” – Speaker: Pam Wanzer.

The Conference’s theme is “Achieving Success in the Real World.” The conference will start with a main session, followed by four break-out sessions and concluding with Clements during lunch.

Women can register and pay online for the conference on the Edmond Chamber’s website, www.edmondchamber.com. The cost is $50 for whole day or $30 lunch only.

This year’s sponsors to date are the Resourceful Women Sponsors: Advanced Aesthetics, GT Clean and Encore Professional Medical Services and the Supporting Women Sponsors: Edmond Electric, Oklahoma Fidelity Bank, The Chiropractic Office and The Edmond Sun.

            The HOPE Center was organized in 1984 to help members of the Edmond community meet basic needs by providing food, clothing, household items and financial assistance.

Edmond residents will know if they are in a participating neighborhood by Saturday, October 29, 2011. Those residents will receive a Target sack with instructions on their doorstep by Saturday. Those residents, in participating neighborhoods, can help by placing canned goods or non-perishable food items in the bag provided and place the bag on their front porch on the day of pickup. Volunteers for the Edmond Young Professionals will pick up the “Trick-or-TrEAT” donations on October 31, 2011. Those interested in volunteering should contact Marilyn Kreidler at 341.2808 or marilyn@edmondchamber.com.

For those not in participating neighborhoods, donations can be dropped off during the event from 4:30 -7:00 p.m. on October 31, 2011 on the east side of UCO’s football field (off Chowning).

Edmond Young Professionals (EYP) focuses on three areas: networking, education and community service. EYP hosts regular events which include networking opportunities, quarterly educational workshops and community service projects. Edmond Young Professionals are presented by Mo Anderson, Keller-Williams and Elite Partner Sponsor:  Oklahoma Fidelity Bank, Education Sponsor: the University of Central Oklahoma and Networking Sponsor: 4Corners.

For more information please visit the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce’s website at www.edmondchamber.com and click on the EYP heading or search for the Edmond Young Professionals on Facebook.

            “Dr. Don Betz arrives at UCO during a pivotal time in higher education, which demands a high level of focused leadership. He brings an exceptional combination of visionary leadership, teaching experience, and passion for student learning to meet these challenges. Since his recent arrival, he has encouraged all of the employees on campus to “Be the Change”, which exemplifies his level of commitment to helping educate the citizens of Oklahoma. We are excited and privileged to have Dr. Betz speak at the October Membership Luncheon” said Myron Pope, University of Central Oklahoma and Chairman of the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce.

 The October luncheon’s Presenting sponsor is AT&T with Francis Tuttle Technology Center as the Gold Host sponsor and Cox Business as the Silver sponsor. The cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Cost at the door is $28. Please make your reservation online at www.edmondchamber.com.

The Chamber’s Membership Luncheons are open to all Chamber members and their guests. The luncheons feature a program to provide useful information for area businesses. 

All members are invited at no cost and no RSVP is needed. Graco Roofing & Construction is the presenting sponsor for the Morning Mingle Series and the Gold Host Sponsor of the October Morning Mingle is TeamLogic IT. 

This casual monthly event is hosted by local businesses. The purpose of this event is to provide people with an informal social outlet with other professionals in their community.

For more information on this event and all others, please visit the Chamber’s website at www.edmondchamber.com.

“The Women’s Conference not only offers an opportunity to hone your business skills, it’s also a great opportunity to network and connect with local business women who are experiencing the same struggles and success.” said Whitney Williams, 2011 Women’s Leadership Conference Chair. 

The keynote will be HGTV Design Star® Fan Favorite and Edmond resident, Kellie Clements. Clements came from a family of artist which made choosing interior design an easy choice. Clements attended University of Central Arkansas where she graduated in 2001 with an Interior Design degree and then relocated to Oklahoma. She is a wife and a mother that has a love for design that goes much deeper than paint on the walls. Clements will discuss her experience on Design Star as well as her journey in becoming an independent entrepreneur while starting her own business. 

The session topics are as followed: 1) It’s All About the Money, Honey – Speaker: Victoria Woods 2) How to Negotiate – speaker: Kathy Wallis 3) Life Interrupted…Dealing with Changes – Speaker: Pam Wanzer 4) Networking: It’s More Than Just Saying “Hi” -  Speaker: Anita Kelley, Anita Kelley Consulting.  

The Conference’s theme is “Achieving Success in the Real World.” The conference will start with a main session, followed by four break-out sessions and concluding with Clements during lunch.

Women can register and pay online for the conference on the Edmond Chamber’s website, www.edmondchamber.com. Please download a registration form to choose a break-out session. The cost is $50 for whole day or $30 lunch only.

This year’s sponsors to date are the Resourceful Women Sponsors, Advanced Aesthetics, GT Clean and Encore Professional Medical Services and the Supporting Women Sponsors, Edmond Electric, Oklahoma Fidelity Bank, The Chiropractic Office and The Edmond Sun.

The objective of the award is to honor business women who:  have made achievements in the professional field; exhibit leadership in their profession; act as a mentor/role model to other women; dedicates significant time and effort to philanthropic activities; and exhibits leadership in the Edmond/Oklahoma City community.

The women must be a member of the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce to be eligible for the award.

To nominate a business woman, please fill out a form on the Chamber website, call the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce at 341-2808 or email info@edmondchamber.com.

The objective of the award is to honor businesses that have made significant growth and outstanding contributions to the economy and the overall progress of the Edmond area. Nominees will be judged on business growth and performance, business strategies and innovation, business challenges and competitiveness and community involvement and contribution.

Businesses must meet the following criteria to be nominated.

• The business shall employ no more than fifty (50) full-time persons.
• The business shall have been in business a minimum of three (3) years.
• The business must be locally owned for-profit business.
• The business must be a member in good standing of the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce for the previous two (2) years.
• The applicant must be the owner, partner or major shareholder of the business, and active in its day-to-day operations.
• Businesses that have an employee currently serving on the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors or a spouse serving as Chamber staff will not be eligible for consideration.
• Businesses that were finalists the previous year will not be eligible for consideration.

To nominate a business please call the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce at 341-2808 or email info@edmondchamber.com. Nomination forms can be downloaded from the website and faxed into the Chamber at 340-5512. Businesses may nominate themselves. Any individual can nominate any business that meets the criteria. All nominations are confidential and the Chamber will contact the qualified nominees.