Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Small Business Awards
For 87 years, The GSCC has been the voice of local business. Today, we serve nearly 2,300 members, the overwhelming majority of which are designated as small businesses. The Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Small Business Awards program was established to honor greater Sarasota's small business entrepreneurs. Mr. Berlin, in many ways, symbolized the spirit of the award. He saw the enormous potential of having his own small business in the 1930s and succeeded in a number of business ventures. Mr. Berlin also epitomized the hopes and dreams of contemporary men and women in small business and actively supported and encouraged many of them. He became Chairman of The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce in 1946 and was the driving force behind the formation of the Sarasota YMCA. The Chamber is very grateful to Mr. Berlin for lending his name to the awards program, which began in 1991.
The Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Small Business Awards luncheon is held annually in the spring and has become the most prestigious business awards luncheon in our area with more than 600 business owners and community leaders attending each year. Check The Chamber's calendar of events for details about this year's luncheon.
Nomination Process
Anyone can nominate a Chamber member business or businesses in the following annual award categories:
- Small Business
- Young Business
- Cultural Organization
- Non-Profit Organization
- Diversity Visionary
- Think Green Award
- Woman Entrepreneurial Excellence
- Young Professional
Application Process
Nominees are notified by mail and are sent an application form. All complete, written applications are reviewed by a panel of independent judges with the top scoring nominees in each category being selected as finalists. The finalists are then interviewed by a panel of judges. The winner in each category is announced at the awards luncheon.
Recent Winners
The winners of the 2008 Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Small Business Awards are:
US Tent Rental, Inc.
Small Business
Survival School of Workforce Spanish
Diversity Visionary Business
Manatee Community College
Non-Profit Organization
Biological Tree Services
Think Green
Rock Solid Construction Company
Young Business
The John & Mable Ringling Museum
Cultural Organization
Roxanne Joffe
Woman Entrepreneurial Excellence
Andrew Foley
Young Professional
