From helping low-income students succeed to assisting U.S. military veterans, six small businesses in San Diego have earned awards for their work in our region.
The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce held its annual Small Business Awards reception earlier this week and awarded top honors to several local businesses that are contributing to the region and driving economic growth.
The winners included Reality Changers, a nonprofit that won the “Outstanding Nonprofit” category, for its important work helping low-income students improve their grades and graduate college at an 86 percent success rate. Since it was founded, the Chamber says Reality Changers has a total of over $100 million in earned scholarships.
Meanwhile, GroundMetrics, Inc. won the “Tech Savvy” award for its proprietary electromagnetic sensor, which has become a world leader in the oil and gas technology market. The tool helps customers use less fracking and drill fewer bad wells.
The Chamber awarded Moniker Group the “Only in San Diego” award for thinking beyond San Diego’s beaches and sunshine and harnessing the “cooperative entrepreneurial spirit to provide a community where designers, makers, artists and tech professionals can thrive.”
The San Diego Sports Entertainment Center was recognized as the “Cinderella Story” of the year. The small paintball recreation company lost everything in the 2008 financial crisis but has been able to make a comeback as a revitalized, thriving business with plans to expand nationwide.
Innovative Employee Solutions won the Chamber’s “Customer Service Star” for delivering on their motto that “excellent service isn't something you should do, but something you want to do.”
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Finally, Miramar Federal Credit Union was dubbed “Best for Vets” in the Chamber’s 2016 Small Business Awards because of its mission to serve the U.S. military community in San Diego. The company has U.S. veterans on staff who can connect with their customers on that service level.
The Chamber said all of the businesses that won awards have fewer than 50 employees.
“Small businesses are really a driving force of our region's economy and the role they play is truly anything but small,” said Jerry Sanders, President and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber in a press release. “In fact - here in San Diego – half of our region's workforce is employed by companies with fewer than 50 employees.”
The winners were decided by a panel of judges. The Chamber has recognized small, local businesses through this program for nearly 20 years.
“It's an honor to have the opportunity to celebrate San Diego's small businesses and recognize all the hard work they do to create opportunity locally,” Sanders added.
The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce is the largest local Chamber on the West Coast and represents about 2,500 businesses and 300,000 jobs.
