2009 SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
HEALING NATURALLY
LILLEY'S LANDING
LUIGI'S PIZZA KITCHEN
LYNINA INN
NEWSOMCREATIVE
PURE SALON & SPA
TITANIC - BRANSON
2009 CHARITY OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
CHRISTIAN ACTION MINISTRIES
CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATES OF TABLE ROCK LAKE
JACOB'S HOUSE AT THUNDER RANCH
OPTIONS PREGNANCY CLINIC
TANTONE INDUSTRIES
Learn More About the 2009 Nominees
Small Business and Charities Honored at Awards
BRANSON, Mo. – The 2009 “Small Business of the Year” award presented each year by the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce went to The Titanic Museum Attraction on Friday, and the “Charity of the Year” award went to Tantone Industries.
The Titanic Museum Attraction was opened in Branson in 2006 by John and Mary Joslyn. The Joslyns also are active in several community organizations including the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Skaggs Foundation. Mary Kellogg Joslyn was instrumental in creating the recent Great American Pie Show.
Tantone Industries, founded in 1977, provides jobs and daycare to adult individuals with disabilities in Taney County. Tantone also offers affordable labor and services to many businesses in the community. Among their services is cardboard and paper recycling. Tantone advocates for the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life.
The annual awards—in their 11th year—are important because small business often don’t get recognition, said Ross Summers, President and CEO of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Branson was built on small businesses,” Summers told the crowd at the awards ceremony held at Buckingham’s Restaurant in the Clarion Hotel.
It was especially important this year to recognize small businesses, said Karen Hall of Ozark Mountain Bank, which sponsored the Small Business Award.
“People are concerned about where the economy is going and if they will be able to withstand what’s happening,” Hall said.
The not-for-profit category was new this year, and also timely because many non-profits are facing added challenges, said Scott Earls, owner of The Vacation Channel, which sponsored that award.
“Many of the organizations are very effective with their resources,” Earls said.
Other nominees included Healing Naturally, Lilley’s Landing, Luigi’s Pizza Kitchen, Lynina Inn, NewsomCreative, Pure Salon & Spa, Christian Action Ministries, Christian Associates of Table Rock Lake, Jacob’s House and Options Pregnancy Clinic.
