The Martinsville Henry County Chamber of Commerce met at the TAD Space on May 7 to honor several small businesses with awards at a luncheon. James Campos, the keynote speaker, offered an inspirational speech, and Del. Eric Phillips, R-Martinsville, presented the chamber’s 65th-anniversary resolution.
Before the conclusion of the event, this year’s winners were happy to receive their awards, and some were already looking to the future.
Michael Scales, a business analyst for the Longwood Small Business Development Center Western Region, won the award for Campbell-Lester businessperson of the year.
“The biggest value of this is all of the recipients were members of our class along with the small business development center, and our clients are the ones who made the awards. That is the ultimate honor I can get,” said Scales.
Houston Stutz received the Young Professional of the Year award for his work at the Monogram Foods Smith River Sports Complex.
“My goal is to provide a better place for the Martinsville Henry County residents to live and impact the youth,” said Stutz, and added the sports complex has been busy the past few weeks, with more games coming up.
Reed Electrical Solutions received the Small Business of The Year award; Wig’s Unlimited & The Cottage Salon won Small Business of the Year Retail.
“I feel very blessed, and I was just overwhelmed when I found out that I won this award. I see it as a ministry,” said Ella Wickham, owner of Wigs Unlimited.
Brand Builders LLC won Best Manufacturing.
“I was a little bit taken aback that we were recognized,” said Sheila Williams, the owner of Brand Builders, which plans to expand into a larger factory operation and is currently looking for more staff to hire. “It’s a good feeling.”
The Ground Floor won Small Business of the Year in Uptown Martinsville, and its owner, Josh Blancas, announced that it will be starting up a new coffee-roasting business called Third Shift Coffee. The new start-up is expected to launch this summer.
“We will be the supplier of the coffee shop but also sell it across the region,” Blancas said. He added that he is happy the business has made an impact on the community.
Phillip. “I’ve used some of those businesses that have won awards today. Mr. Reed and his electrical company have worked for my church, and Mr. Scales and I serve on the Martinsville City industrial development authority together,” Phillips said, and added that he is pleased with the awards and felt that the Chamber of Commerce is hitting its stride again.
