The Best of Chattanooga’s Small Businesses
Chamber Salutes Three Companies, One Nonprofit at Awards Luncheon
The Chamber honored Southern Hearth and Patio, Metro Services, Inc. and Access America Transport as the Small Business Award recipients for 2010. WTCI-TV (PBS) was recognized as the outstanding nonprofit agency of the year.
The recipients and finalists were recognized during the Small Business Awards Luncheon, an annual event celebrating small business and entrepreneurial excellence in Chattanooga.
Chamber President and CEO Tom Edd Wilson announced that with the renovation of the Chamber-managed Business Development Center, the incubator will reach even more small businesses as they struggle during their early years. "In addition to the many services we offer BDC tenants, we will broaden our program of support to small businesses throughout the community," Wilson said.
SBA Award Recipients
Southern Hearth and Patio (1-20 Employees) is a fireplace and outdoor living retailer specializing in American-made products and focusing on environmentally friendly, EPA-certified technologies. The company’s goal is to offer Chattanoogans a more enjoyable lifestyle indoors and out-of-doors with fireplaces, fire pits, outdoor kitchens and furniture.
Starting with only two employees, a ’99 Dodge pickup and a dream, Clay Dennis – with his wife, Charlotte – launched his business in 2000 out of a basic, one-room office space on Gunbarrel Road. The company has grown to more than seven employees and has expanded into a Lee Highway location that is almost triple the size of the original site.
"We put together a plan of smart, budgeted growth," said Dennis, who runs the company with his wife Charlotte. "There have been times when we have been growing too quickly, so we have had to scale back a few times. Sometimes you have to slow the growth of your business so you can better manage it."
Despite rough early days Dennis always had faith in his future success. "I may not be outrageously good-looking, and I may not be able to rock out on the guitar, but I do have the ability to sell and earn the trust of my customers," he said. "If you use the gifts you have, you are going to be successful."
The company, which expanded as the economy shrank, has emerged as an industry expert on renewable energy like wood and bio-mass fuel and has also distinguished itself as a leader in community service. "We take a serious interest in carving out some of our time and contributing it to the community," Dennis said. "The way I see it this community feeds us, so we want to feed it back." Southern Hearth and Patio supports several local nonprofits, including Boy Scouts of America, The Ronald McDonald House of Chattanooga and Pink. www.southernhearth.com
Metro Services, Inc. (21-50 Employees) provides heating and air conditioning solutions for residential, industrial and commercial customers including office, educational, health care, government and private industry. In addition, Metro Services provides industrial burner service and controls to manufacturing and boiler customers. Metro has delivered factory-authorized service and training for many industries across the U.S. and internationally.
Owner Ron Speicher is a UTC engineering graduate and LEED Green Associate, who supervises a staff of 23. Speicher says Metro is focused on energy conservation and the use of renewable energy such as solar electric and solar water heating. "Our company’s work in this arena includes educating customers on the most environmentally sustainable options and coordinating applications for state and federal stimulus grant funding on behalf of customers," he said.
Metro is the only private organization in Tennessee certified with the Department of Energy for industrial energy studies. The company is a listed partner with the EPA Service and Product Provider network.
Metro Services’ philanthropy includes Bethel Bible Village, Habitat for Humanity and St. Peter’s School. www.metroservicesinc.com
Access America Transport (51-200 Employees), a full-service transportation business, is one of the nation’s fastest growing third-party logistics companies.
Access America specializes in all modes of transportation, including less-than-truckload, van, flatbed, heavy haul, and refrigerated/frozen freight.
Access America was founded in 2002 as the logistics division of Key-James Brick. Soon after the initial concept was developed, Access America diversified into other commodities and services.
Currently, Access America operates six branches, in addition to the corporate office in Chattanooga. Branches are located in Knoxville, Birmingham, Minneapolis, Columbus, OH, and Eufaula, AL.
In 2009, Inbound Logistics named Access America in the Top 100 of Third Party Logistics companies. In addition, the company was recognized for the second year in a row as the fourth Best Employer in Tennessee by Business TN magazine.
Access America’s managing partners, Ted Alling, Barry Large and Allan Davis, attended Samford University business school together and formed their company a few years after graduation. www.accessamerica.com
As the PBS station for the Chattanooga region, WTCI-TV (PBS) (Nonprofit) has offered quality, award-winning programming for 40 years, reaching 850,000 people in a four-state, 35-county viewing area. WTCI is governed by a 26-member board of directors, employs 24 staff, and relies on volunteers to support its outreach services.
With a mission to educate, engage and inspire a lifetime of learning and exploration, WTCI airs 60 hours of children’s programming each week along with popular local and national programs that offer balanced public affairs information, documentaries and science programming. WTCI demonstrates its commitment to the arts through programs dedicated to music festivals, opera and dramatic performances.
"WTCI has partnered with over three dozen organizations to expand the station’s impact," said station manager Paul Grove. "At the core of this transformation was WTCI’s move to a new broadcast center in 2007 and the expansion of local productions. WTCI produces four local series and has produced more than a dozen documentaries with topics ranging from World War II heroes to the Riverbend Festival."
WTCI supports local education by providing free literacy workshops, distributing over 10,000 books to children, offering an annual writing contest and working with area schools on book drives and PBS character visits. www.wtcitv.org
SBA Finalists: 1-20 Employees
In 1998, Dan Spriggs opened the doors to Amara Home Care in a small, one-room office in the Business Development Center. From those modest beginnings, the company succeeded through hard work, hope and a steadfast commitment to the highest standard in ethical, compassionate and quality care to all of its clients.
Amara offers non-medical, assisted living care, including companionship, assistance with walking, light housekeeping, laundry, transportation and other services.
Today Amara boasts over 35 full-time employees and contractors, revenue in the millions, and a new, 6,500-square-foot state-of-the-art office complex. www.amaracare.com
Derryberry Public Relations, LLC (DPR) is a full-service public and government relations firm designated as a female-owned small business by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The company began in 2001 as the Chattanooga office of The Ingram Group, a statewide public affairs firm.
Under Robin Derryberry’s leadership, the office quickly became a top performer. In 2005, Derryberry and her husband, Andy Derryberry, acquired the Chattanooga-based portion of the firm, changed the name and continued to grow the business.
In addition to working with many for-profit companies, they decided to nurture nonprofit organizations. With this in mind, Derryberry often matches nonprofit clients’ fees with the equivalent in pro-bono work to help launch area nonprofits or to support those that are struggling. www.derryberrypr.com
SBA Finalists: 21-50 Employees
Hullco Exteriors is Chattanooga’s largest home improvement company, offering replacement windows, exterior siding, entry doors, screen rooms, sun rooms, room additions, gutters, and gutter protection.
Hullco began in 1977 as a Buck Stove retailer and distributer. In the early 1980’s, Hullco began manufacturing storm windows for the TVA Energy Right program and built a strong reputation thanks to satisfied homeowners.
In 2007 Matt Hullander purchased the company from his father, Bill. Under Matt’s guidance, Hullco Exteriors has just enjoyed the largest sales year in its 33-year history. Recently, Hullco Exteriors was named to Remodeling magazine’s Big 50, an honor given to the top 50 remodelers in the U.S. www.hullcoexteriors.com
McCright & Associates works with housing authorities needing to shorten lease-up times for properties, save money through customized technology or assure that their operations are compliant with government regulations.
A believer in the transforming power of technology, the McCright team attracts exceptional IT resources. In business for two decades, McCright still has the flexibility and keen edge of a start-up when it comes to developing the best propriety technology in the industry.
Betsy and Stan McCright have extensive experience running process-intensive businesses, turning around troubled housing agencies, improving performance and supporting high volumes of housing inspections. www.mccright.com
SBA Finalists: 51-200 Employees
The Doubletree Hotel Chattanooga is a full-service hotel featuring 185 guest rooms, 11,000 square feet of meeting space, a saltwater heated pool and a business center. Bill Mish serves as general manager.
The Doubletree opened as a Hilton brand in 2008 after a $28 million dollar renovation of the Clarion Hotel purchased by Doubletree in 2006.
The hotel is a model of environmentally friendly features, from the energy-efficient roofs to bar coasters made from recycled tires.
In 2009, the Doubletree, which employs 110 team members, was ranked 8th among Doubletree’s 215 hotels worldwide. www.chattanooga.doubletree.com Located on Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls is internationally known as America’s deepest commercial cave and tallest, most-visited underground waterfall accessible to the public. Annual visitation exceeds 400,000.
At Ruby Falls guests enjoy a guided tour through a cavern to a 145-foot waterfall flowing from the roof of the cavern.
The attraction, listed on the National Register for Historic Places, has launched environmental efforts, such as LED lighting in the cave and the installation of 90 solar panels.
The ownership of Ruby Falls is held in the John T. Steiner Trust, guided by a board of directors and a management team. Hugh Morrow is president of Ruby Falls which has a staff of 93 employees. www.rubyfalls.com
Nonprofit Finalists
Friends of the Zoo (FOZ) has over 4,600 members, a staff of 34 employees, and the support of a 12-member board. Dardenelle Long serves as executive director of the Zoo and FOZ, while Gary Chazen serves as FOZ board president.
FOZ supports the Zoo’s mission of providing an educational and recreational opportunity for all citizens of the community. Thanks in part FOZ, the Warner Park attraction had over 215,000 visitors in 2009, while over 21,000 people participated in Zoo education programs.
FOZ supports staffing and daily operations, on-site and off-site educational programs, summer camps, special events, capital improvements and interaction assistance between the Zoo and other zoological, professional and community interests.
In the last 10 years FOZ has taken a leadership role in $10 million in capital improvements to the Zoo and in making it possible for the Zoo to grow into a home for over 270 animals. www.chattzoo.org
The Jewish Community Federation of Greater Chattanooga was established as a nonprofit in 1931 to meet the needs of an immigrant Jewish population and now serves the entire Chattanooga area community, regardless of religious affiliation.
Under the leadership of Executive Director Michael Dzik since 2001, the organization is supported through private donations to its annual campaign. Sixteen employees and numerous volunteers execute the Federation mission.
The Federation’s Care Network provides individualized services with a social worker, community nurse, geriatric pharmacist, meal delivery and free van service. Premier programs for children include the Aleph Bet Children’s Center and a Philanthropy Camp.
Monthly and special programs include art exhibits, discussion groups, service days, lectures, classes, arts performances, and holiday celebrations. www.jcfgc.com |
