Chamber announces small business of the year winners
Published 7:16 pm Wednesday, May 9, 2018
- Below left, Lyle Daniel, Chamber Chair Casey Smith and Don McGuire pose for a photo after Benchmark Contracting was named a Small Business of the Year. --Contributed
Three businesses were named 2018 Small Business of the Year Tuesday at the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce’s Early Bird Breakfast.
Advertising Made Easy was the winner in the category of businesses with five employees or fewer, Benchmark Contracting won the 6-25 employee division and Coldwell Banker Spinks Brown Durand Realtors won the 26-50 employee category.
Donna and Curt Snider with Advertising Made Easy pose with Smith after their business was named one of the Small Businesses of the Year. –Contributed
Advertising Made Easy works with clients to help their company grow. Their services includes media planning, printing ads, social media, media placement, radio copywriting and more.
Benchmark provides residential, commercial and industrial services. The company started following the recession. According to a press release from the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce, Benchmark has seen a 413 percent increase in total sales volume over the past eight years and a 93 percent increase in volume in the last 18 months.
Coldwell Banker Spinks Brown Durand Realtors has been in business in LaGrange for 45 years. Since 2008, the firm has added 14 additional team members and now has just under 35 employees. According to the chamber press release, 22 of the 31 agents at the firm were honored at the recent Troup County Board of Realtors Annual Professional Achievement Awards Luncheon.
Arch Hodges, Laurie Yates, Ben Yates, Tracy Spinks Wood and Chamber Chair Casey Smith of Calumet Bank pose for a photo after Coldwell Banker Spinks Brown Durand Realtors was named one of the Small Businesses of the Year. –Contributed
Todd Carlisle, business consultant with the University of Georgia, chaired the review committee and announced the winners.
“There is one thing that I wish all the small businesses in Troup County would do more of — brag about yourself,” said Todd Carlisle during Tuesday’s breakfast.
“While all of the applications were outstanding and only three could be chosen for recognition, I know that each business nominated could tell so much more about your growth, your business plans and what you do to support your community. I encourage everyone in the room to submit applications next year—and tell us your stories in big bold type.”
