Alex Vaughan Mobile Entertainment Blog

Delaware State News 05/22/2009, Page A11
Central chamber hands out business awards

Strickland, Bayhealth, Vaughan honored
By Katie Kazimir
Delaware State News DOVER — William Strickland of L&W Insurance Co. and Bayhealth Medical Center were among the big winners as the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Business Awards Dinner was held Thursday evening at the Maple Dale Country Club in Dover.
“It’s to recognize the businesses that have been nominated by their fellow chamber members,” said Gina Aurora, spokeswoman for the Chamber of Commerce.
Ms. Aurora said members of the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce nominate fellow business members for Small Business Person, Corporation and Entrepreneur of the Year.
A nomination committee then narrows down the businesses to three for each category, and then chamber members get one vote for each category.
“If they registered and came tonight, they had an extra vote,” Ms. Aurora said Thursday while votes were being tallied.
“ You don’t even know who wins until the night of (the eve nt),” she said.
“Choosing a winner amongst this group of nominees was a challenge,” said Alan Kovitz, board chairman of the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce.
Nominees for the Small Business Person of the Year included Lisa and Jennings Hastings and Janis Nesterak of Faw, Casson & Co., anad Mr. Strickland and Bryant Richardson of Morning Star Publications Mr. Strickland was sick and unable to make the event, so the award was accepted by his son, Justin Strickland.
“I know if he was here he would have been excited he had won,” said Justin.
Nominees for Corporation of the Year were Bayhealth, People’s Place and the Blood Bank of Delmarva.
“I feel good for the employees and physicians of Bayhealth to be recognized for the benefits we provide the Dover and Milford communities,” said Terry Murphy of Bayhealth.
Mr. Murphy said he felt Bayhealth was in good competition with People’s Place and the Blood Bank of Delmarva.  “ We’re very excited to be recognized for the community benefits we provide,” he said.
Alex Vaughan of Alex Vaughan Mobile Entertainment won Entrepreneur of the Year honors. He was nominated with Kelly Devine of Where Pigs Fly restaurant and James McGinnis of McGinnis Commercial Real Estate.
“I’m flabbergasted. To have been previously nominated and now win, I feel like I’m running with the big dogs,” said Mr. Vaughan.
In addition to honoring local business leaders who excelled this past year, the event also offered a chance to network.
“It’s nice to be with other business leaders — successful business leaders,” said Mr. Murphy.
Robert Ware, director of Home Instead Senior Care, was attending the event for the first time.
“It’s excited to help people come out and celebrate successes they may have had this year,” Mr. Ware said. “It’s good seeing businesses prosper in bad times and help them celebrate their success.”
“ This is great. Anything you can do to support small business,” said James Provo of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
“Small businesses are the ones that are hiring,” he said, adding that 70 percent of new jobs in the nation the last few years have been created by small businesses.
“Small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy.”

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