BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –Dan Pahos, president of Home Instead Senior Care, was named Small Business Executive of the Year at the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) 2014 Small Business Awards held in downtown Birmingham. Hundreds of business leaders, rising stars and young professionals gathered at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel for the event presented by Bright House Networks Business Solutions and sponsored by Alabama Media Group, Wells Fargo, Energen Corp., Sheraton Birmingham Hotel and The Jimmie Hale Mission.
As the BBA Small Business Executive of the Year, and in partnership with Samford University, Pahos will serve as Executive in Residence at the university’s Brock School of Business during the 2014-2015 school year. He will speak to small business and entrepreneurship classes, advise Brock School of Business Incubator tenants, and participate in school activities, such as judging the annual Regions Bank New Venture Challenge business plan competition.
In addition to Small Business Executive of the Year, 10 awards were presented in competitive categories.
Three honorary awards were also presented to small business leaders and advocates in the community.
Receiving honorary awards at the 2014 Small Business Awards Celebration were:
• ServisFirst Bank as Small Business Champion of the Year.
• Devon Laney, president and CEO of Innovation Depot, as the Jesse J. Lewis Jr. Small Business Advocate of the Year.
• Children’s of Alabama as Legacy Business of the Year.
In 10 competitive award categories recognizing small business in Birmingham, more than 90 companies qualified as contenders. After review by an independent panel of judges, three finalists emerged from each category and one was named an award recipient:
• Diamond Studios received the Small Business of the Year Award, with one to 15 employees; Kelley & Mullis Wealth Management Inc. and JTI Companies Inc. were named finalists.
• Banc Statements Inc. received the Small Business of the Year Award, with 16 to 50 employees; Sain Engineering Associates Inc. and Iron Tribe Fitness were named finalists.
• Daxko received the Small Business of the Year Award, with 51 to 250 employees; Two Maids & A Mop and Bruno Event Team were named finalists.
• Jessica Findley of Findley Enterprises LLC received the Young Professional of the Year Award; Louise Crow of Peritus and Chanel Fort of Education Corporation of America were named finalists.
• YouthServe Birmingham received the Nonprofit of the Year Award, with a budget of less than $500,000; Special Equestrians and Hand in Paw were named finalists.
• A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club received the Nonprofit of the Year Award, with a budget more than $500,000; Alabama Ballet and Oasis Counseling for Women and Children were named finalists.
• Hospicelink received the Technology/Biotechnology Business of the Year Award; ProctorU Inc. and Atherotech Diagnostics Lab were named finalists.
• Diamond Fortress Technologies Inc. received the Emerging Business of the Year Award; The Heavenly Donut Co. and RichGood Gourmet LLC (Icebox Coffee) were named finalists.
• Earthborn Studios Inc. received the International Trade Excellence Award; Creative Concepts Inc. and Alignment Simple Solutions were named finalists.
• Kirk.Drennan PC received the Dr. A.G. Gaston Emerging Minority-or Woman-owned Business of the Year; Cheeriodicals and Sister Golf were named finalists.
Brian Hilson, president of the BBA, said small businesses are an important component of Birmingham’s regional economy.
“The BBA’s Small Business Awards celebrate the success of small businesses and the hard work of so many entrepreneurs in our community,” he said. “Each year, through these awards, we are able to show the community just how diverse and rich Birmingham’s small business community really is and reward those business owners for their hard work every day.”
The Birmingham Business Alliance is a dynamic advocate, unifying voice and constant catalyst for economic development and business prosperity for the Birmingham region. For more information about the BBA visit its website at www.birminghambusinessalliance.com.
