Chamber announces finalists for Small Business of Year
Midway Electric, which recently won a Blue Ribbon award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, was one of the finalists selected by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce for its Small Business of Year award.
The five finalists for 2009 were announced at a luncheon Tuesday during the Chamber’s Business Conference and Showcase at the Holiday Inn Select Executive Center.
Midway Electric, formed by Brandon and Michelle Spry in 2001, was also chosen as a finalist in the 2008 Business of the Year competition.
The electrical contracting company with 13 employees on 7301 W. Henderson Road provides service and repair for an assortment of commercial, light industrial and residential clients. Michelle Spry said the business is on a good run.
“The past year has given us an opportunity to change a few things within our business and help us grow,” she said after the Chamber luncheon.
The other four finalists are:
Peckham Wright Architects, 15 South Tenth St.
Peckham Wright’s architects have been designing buildings in Columbia and around the country for 30 years. Specializing in environmentally friendly and sustainable design, the company has been responsible for local structures such as the Regional Headquarters of Commerce Bank and Audrey Walton Stadium, the track and soccer complex on MU’s campus.
“I’m totally surprised and was pleased and honored that a couple people in the community have brought our name forward,” said Nick Peckham, a founding partner of the company. “It’s quite an honor.”
Trabue, Hansen Hinshaw, Inc., 1901 Pennsylvania Dr.
Trabue, Hansen Hinshaw describes itself as a consulting engineering firm that provides “quality technical solutions and personal service” for federal, state, municipal, corporate and private clients.
With 42 employees working in multiple offices around Missouri and Arizona, the company has provided engineering services and site planning for a host of projects. Thomas Trabue, a principal for the company, said the award nomination was “awesome.”
“All of the nominees are great companies,” Trabue said. “But it’s especially neat for our company because we have such a good team. We think that this is a tremendous honor for them as well.”
Perlow-Stevens Gallery, 812 East Broadway
Known to most as P.S. Gallery, the downtown establishment provides display space for a wide variety of art, such as paintings, jewelry and sculptures. The gallery’s wares are available both for public viewing and for purchase and the space is often used for events.
Jennifer Perlow, a co-owner along with Chris Stevens, said the business has left a big mark on Columbia – and it’s art scene – with relatively limited resources.
“We have pulled off a lot with this little gallery, haven’t we?” Perlow said. “I think it’s a great sense of validation.”
Advanced Vision, 2011 Corona Road
Owned by Sahba Jalali, Advanced Vision offers both corrective lenses and corneal refractive therapy. The company also offers consultation about laser – or Lasik – surgery, which has been seen as a way to correct vision problems without glasses or contacts.
Jalali was raised in Columbia and after practicing optometry in Boise, Idaho, for six years, he returned in 2002 to open the practice near the eastern end of Stadium Boulevard.
At the luncheon, Jalali said he was “very happy and very grateful” to have his business named a finalist for the award.
The winner will be announced during the 2009 Small Business of the Year Award Luncheon on Friday, May 1, at the Courtyard by Marriott. The luncheon will follow a full week of activities for the Chamber’s annual Small Business Week, which will be held April 27 – May 1. The week will feature seminars presented by Small Business of the Year finalists.