Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Paul Vaughn became a general contractor over 20 years ago. At that time he had no idea that he would one day be coowner

of GenTech Construction, a remarkably successful company.

In fact, GenTech was one of three recipients of the Chamber’s 2007 Small Business Awards. Other companies

receiving awards at the Chamber’s 25th anniversary of the awards event were Thinking Media and COMTRUST Federal Credit Union. The Chattanooga Community Kitchen received the nonprofit agency of the year award.

"I’m honored to lead an organization that understands that small business has a big impact," Chamber President and CEO Tom Edd Wilson told the Convention Center audience. "With over 1,000 people in this room and thousands more visiting the Business EXPO, today’s events are a great example of how the Chamber provides opportunities for you to make the best business connections around."

Wilson pointed out that small businesses create two out of every three new jobs in the U.S., employ 50 percent of all private sector workers and make up more than 99.7 percent of all employers.

"That’s an impressive contribution and the Chamber is pleased to give you – the small businesses of Chattanooga – this silver salute on the 25th anniversary of this event."

The occasion, which was emceed by Ronelle Sellers, chair of the Small Business Awards Committee, included recognition of all previous Small Business Awards recipients, as well as awards to the 2007 recipients. GenTech got its start in 2002, when Vaughn, his friend Duane Horton and Mike McGauley of Fidelity Trust joined forces. It took courage and determination for Vaughn and Horton to embark on the road to entrepreneurship. The company started as a $50,000 investment each on the part of Vaughn and McGauley, with Horton contributing $25,000 worth of computers and software equipment. Vaughn said the partners’ main concern was having the capital to maintain the company. In essence, their dreams were large and funds were limited.

However, with the support of family, long-time friends and business connections, the company made an impressive launch and has experienced steady growth ever since.

GenTech’s projects include Sports Barn North,Mulberry Park Residential Community in Collegedale and the Longstreet’s Charge condominiums in Chickamauga.

GenTech’s first big break came in2004 when Siskin Hospital offered the company a $10 million job. Up to that point, Vaughn said they had brought in about $3 million per year.

"We really appreciate our relationship with Siskin,"Vaughn said. "They gave us a great opportunity and are really supportive of small businesses like ours. In fact, all the people I’ve worked with in the past 25 years have been great.

"Some of the biggest supporters have been Lawson Electric, who held over invoices for us for a few months so that we didn’t have to worry too much about bills. And the company that does our accounting – Henderson, Hutcherson and McCullough – has been instrumental in guiding us. First Tennessee Bank has also really stepped forward to help us with financing."

That brand of support has enabled Vaughn to build a company which is expected to exceed $40 million by 2008.

Small Business Award winners in a completely different industry, Dane and Sheila Boyington strive to achieve an equal level of satisfaction among the customers and employees of Thinking Media, a company which has gained a national reputation for its workforce development and character education products.

The couple, who hold degrees in engineering, quit their jobs in the late 90s and started their own business -- one of only two certified curriculum programs for workforce development. The couple spent two years developing Thinking Media and launched the business in 1997.

Ms. Boyington said she enjoys being part of a team that has a positive impact on people looking for jobs.More than 2,500 organizations, including colleges, workforce agencies, school districts and Fortune 500 companies, use the company’s KeyTrain®, a comprehensive system providing curriculum for ACT’s WorkKeys® employment system. The system helps individuals learn, practice and demonstrate workplace skills. Through such products, Thinking Media helps workforces become more attractive to incoming companies, Dr. Boyington said.

"It’s rewarding to hear stories about people gaining self-respect and confidence by using our products," he said.

A milestone for the business occurred in 1999 when South Carolina adopted a statewide program using KeyTrain. This was the company’s first state-wide contract. Since then, Thinking Media has aquired about 14 other state contracts. Dr. Boyington said he hopes that number will double within the next five years.

"We have a strong work ethic and a passion for life, and we also have been fortunate to have such a great staff that helps us offer constant great customer service," Ms. Boyington said.

Because of its exemplary customer service, Thinking Media is featured in a class on taking care of clients at a South Carolina college.

On top of all this, the couple said they credit their success to the fact that they don’t compartmentalize their lives. "When you work so long to develop something, it becomes a part of you," they said.

If anyone knows about working toward a goal for a long time, it’s Johnny Phillips. He started with the COMTRUST Federal Credit Union in 1969 as a parttime employee and worked his way through the ranks to become president of the company in 1986.

"I guess I was groomed throughout the years to take the job," he said. "It has been a fun time and a very fulfilling experience because we’re now serving the needs of more than 40,000 members."

COMTRUST boasts assets of more than $264.5 million and maintains nine locations in five states. Phillips said his goals for the company are to continue to grow and add more branches and to attain $300 million in assets within the next several years.

"We give our members first-class, top-notch products and services at a very competitive price," he said. "Our website says it best – ‘Our primary purpose is to serve our members’ best interests by providing competitive dividends on savings, low interest rates on loans and numerous other financial services.We are here to help you find ways to achieve your financial goals.’

" Phillips is proud of the Bonus Dividend COMTRUST has paid its members 10 consecutive years. This money is in addition to the competitive rates already paid on all member accounts.

Phillips said that although COMTRUST is the second leading credit union in Chattanooga, the company strives to keep a small business atmosphere and attitude. "We emphasize to our employees that we work for our customers," he said. "We never forget that."

The Chattanooga Community Kitchen also works to provide excellent customer service to its clients -- some of the most disadvantaged members of the community. The non-profit organization strives to lessen the struggles of the homeless and needy without expectation of recompense but out of compassion for humankind.

"We try to show them they’re God’s creation and just as important as anyone else," Executive Director Charlie Hughes said. "Their relationship to society is key."

Founded in 1982 as a soup kitchen in a church basement, the Community Kitchen provides many services including a meals program, lothing giveaway and laundry service, overnight shelters, transitional housing and employment and life skills training.

Hughes said that the Community Kitchen has immediate goals to provide a day center to offer refuge from the elements, respite care for homeless persons released from the hospital and a 24-hour shelter for individuals who work secondand third-shift jobs and cannot make the 6 p.m. curfew for the overnight shelter.

"We have people who were once homeless come back and volunteer," said Hughes, who has been at Community Kitchen for 18 years. "We have others now working on the board of directors, which essentially means they’re my boss. They are all proof that people can do what they want to do despite their current situations. We just try to help them realize they are capable of achieving their goals.

"There’s going to be failures, but there’s always going to be that individual that we are going to reach," he said. "We believe that when one of our consumers fail, we fail because we didn’t find what it took to help them succeed."

The way to success, Hughes said, is to constantly evaluate the needs of Community Kitchen clients and the availability of funding. He said that $1.3 million of the Kitchen’s $1.6 million budget comes from private donors.

"We owe a debt of gratitude to the city of Chattanooga," Hughes said. For 25 years, we have existed because the people of Chattanooga believe in what we’redoing and support us."