By GENEA NOEL
Freeport News Reporter
Freeport, Grand Bahama- Winners for the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) 2nd Annual Excellence Awards were announced on Saturday evening during a gala event held at the Regency Theatre.
The aim of the awards is to recognize businesses and business persons who have demonstrated commitment to community building.
According to Chamber officials, there was an increased interest for the awards this year, as an estimated 50 persons for all categories were nominated this year.
Guests at the event were entertained with stellar performances by the Grand Bahama Youth Choir, Wilfred Solomon and the Magnetics and the Starlighters.
There were six general categories for nomination including: "Outstanding Business Person of the Year," "Developing Entrepreneur of the Year," "Company of the Year," "Philanthropic Business or Business Person of the Year," "Business Student of the Year," "Lifetime Achievement Award."
Bahamas Wholesale Agency (BWA) beat out 11 other business for the Company of the Year Award for businesses with 50 employees or less.
Nominees for this category included: Barefoot Marketing; Flamingo Air; Freeport Gases Ltd.; Cool Breezes Restaurant; Freeport Jewellers; Island Bedding; Frank's Ice Cream; Bahama Buy & Sell; Professional Brokers; Magnolia's Restaurant and GT Brokers.
The Company of the Year Award with 50 employees or more went to Sawyer's Food Store. The Garden of the Groves; Furniture Plus; Cable Bahamas; Bahamian Brewery and Freeport Restaurant (Kentucky Fried Chicken) were also nominated for this award.
Donald Roberts of Dolly Madison Furniture won the Outstanding Businessperson of the Year Award over Jeffrey B. Butler Sr., Butlers Group of Companies; Jeremy Cafferata, Freeport Ship Services Ltd.; Donald Dean, The Architect Incorp.; and Frank Outten of Frank's Ice Cream
Noel and Britton Clarke, Agave Restaurant won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Others nominees included : Derick & Reannah Singh, Cruzin Café; Ruthann Newton-Lightbourn, 1.9.6; and Debbie Borsetto, Now That's A Party.
Frank Outten got the well deserved Philanthropic Businessperson of the Year award over Eddie Whan and Shuffel Hepburn.
Business persons were not the only ones honoured at the event, Dreshon Rolle, a Jack Hayward High School student, won the Business Student of the Year Award earning an academic scholarship. Vonette Malakius of St. Georges High School and Carissa Gaitor of Tabernacle Baptist Academy were also nominated for this award.
The most noted award of the evening, the Lifetime Achievement Award, went to Havard Cooper of Doris Minette Holding and The Grand Bahama Shipyard received the President's award given by GBCC President Gregory Moss.
Business persons were encouraged by officials to remain committed in their endeavours, and never to compromise excellence in service, quality of products and commitment to fair and honest conduct in the business marketplace.
