Columbus Chamber Small Business Leader Award
At the Columbus Chamber, small businesses are the core of our membership and an integral part of the Columbus business community. That’s why we honor the leaders of those businesses every year with our Small Business Leader Award, presented at our Chamber Annual Meeting.
The Small Business Leader Award honors any owner, founder, president, managing partner or CEO whose business exemplifies success through increased sales, number of employees and contributions to the community. Anyone is free to nominate a small business leader, and nominations are simple – complete our short nomination form to get started.
For nominations, please visit Annual Meeting Awards. Please contact Nick Tafoya with any questions.
To be eligible for the Small Business Leader Award, the following criteria must be met:
- Must be a Columbus Chamber member in good standing.
- Must be the CEO, founder, president or managing partner of the company. Note: You may nominate up to four persons who jointly own and operate the business.
- Must have been in operation for at least three consecutive years.
- Must be a for-profit company.
- Small businesses are defined as those having 500 or fewer employees.
The Columbus Chamber has highlighted our small business community’s leaders for over 30 years.
For more information, contact Nick Tafoya at nicktafoya@Columbus.org.
Small Business Leader Award Hall of Fame
The Columbus Chamber has honored Small Business Leaders for over thirty years. These leaders rise above the rest and have substantiated success and leadership, increased sales, workforce and contributions to the community. These are the elite, the best of the best.
2026
Brad Griffith, Buckeye Innovation
2025
Charles “Charlie” R. Morrison III, MCR Medical Supply
2024
Deonna Barnett, Aventi Enterprises
2023
Stacie Boord, Shadowbox Live
2022
Bill Balderaz, Futurety
2021
Greg Guy, Air Force One
2020
Rachel Friedman, TENFOLD
2019
Lori Kaiser, Kaiser Consulting
2018
Greg Ubert, Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea
2017
Tom Harris, CGI and Dwight Smith, SSI
2016
Leo Ruberto, Feazel
2015
Mohan Viddam and Sanjay Dudaney, Halcyon Solutions
2014
Neil Mortine, Fahlgren Mortine, Small Business Award of Excellence; Caroline Z. Worley, Worley Law, LLC, Small Business Leader Award
2012
Pamela Springer, Manta, Adapt & Innovate Award; Otto Beatty, III, Brian Brooks, E. E. Ward Moving & Storage Co. LLC, Diversity Leadership Award; Debra Jasper, Ph.D., LLC, Betsy Hubbard, Mindset Digital, LLC, Emerging Excellence Award; Michelle Galligan, ViaVero Consulting, Young Professional Leadership Award
2011
Farah B. Majidzadeh, Resource International, Inc., Diversity Leadership; Christopher Irion, e-Cycle LLC, EcoBusiness; Derek Grosso, Columbus Young Professionals Club, LLC, Young Professional Leadership; Kristen Harris & Catherine Lang-Cline, Portfolio Creative, Adapt & Innovate; Jim Lane, GBQ Redbank Advisors, Emerging Excellence
2010
Mike Figliuolo, thoughtLEADERS, Under $1 Million; Ron Stokes, Mark Hall and Lavita Stokes, Three Leaf Production, Over $1 Million; Stephanie Leader, Leaderpromos.com, Over $5 Million
2009
Bill Balderaz, Webbed Marketing, Over $1 Million; Kamal Boulos, The Refectory Restaurant and Bistro, Over $1 Million; Dan Bashore, John Killacky and Jerry Spencer, Bartha Audio Visual, Over $5 Million; Tom Hastings, Computer Site Columbus, Community Philanthropist
2008
Michelle Adams, Prism Marketing Communications, Under $1 Million; Alan Homewood, 2Checkout.com, OVER $1 Million
2007
Joe Sanda, Astute Solutions
2006
Mike Schmitt, Steve Schmitt, Mark Schmitt and J.T. Schmitt, Jet Container
2005
Mike Rosati, Rosati Windows
2004
Ty Vincent, Vincent Direct, LLC
2003
Janis Mitchell, Info Fortress Solutions, Inc.
2002
Emmet Apolinario, Caspian Software
2001
Craig Wanner, Wanner Metal Worx
2000
Rhonda J. DeMuth, TDCI Consulting, LLC
1999
Paula Inniss, Ohio Full Court Press
1998
Cameron Mitchell, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants
1997
Ross Youngs, Univenture, Inc.
1996
Mark Swepston, Atlas Butler Heating & Cooling
1995
Barb Markin, Golden Touch Demos/MNE Marketing
1994
Larry Levine, Impulse Wear
1993
Vernon L. Gibson, Dove Building Services, Inc.
1992
Jeffrey and Richard Roby, Storytime Learning Centers, Inc.
1991
Ken Mills and Cameron James, Mills/James Productions
1990
Sue Doody, Lindey’s
1989
Randy Wilcox, Inacomp
1988
Michael Wren, M.E. Engineering
1987
Larry H. Greenwald, Plantasia, Offshoots
1986
Lisa Galat McGivergin, The Clock Restaurant
1985
Lloyd Hackman, Ribbon Technology Corp.
