LIMA - It may have been the businesses that were honored at Wednesday's Chamber of Commerce Awards, but to hear the winners speak, the customer remains king.
Winners in six different categories were announced during Wednesday's annual Lima Allen County Chamber Gala. The winning businesses covered the gamut from beauty salons to construction firms, but all shared a common belief that it's the customer that makes it all work.
"If you don't have customers you don't have business," said Julie Conkle, owners of Jewels Health and Beauty Spa, named the Emerging Business of the year.
For Stacey Stose, co-owner of Johnny A's Grill and Spirits, it's time with customers that makes the work worthwhile. The Delphos bar and restaurant was named Woman-owned Business of the Year.
"We have a great, great, great customer following and we enjoy serving people. Our customers are everything," Stose said.
The definition of customer changes with the business. For the Equestrian Therapy Program, winner of the nonprofit award, the customers are the adults and children who use its services. But the volunteers, board members and donors who support the agencies services are just as vital.
"The community has been so good to us and that is why we've been able to do what we've been able to do," Director Michele Sabol said.
Lima City Schools Superintendent Karel Oxley took home the Athena Award for support of women in the workplace. George Ricks, owner of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, celebrated his 40th birthday by winning the Culturally Diverse Business of the Year Award. And Trisco Systems won the Small Business of the Year plaque.
Trisco co-owner Steve Walter told the crowd of business leaders attending that the evening was really a celebration not just of the six winners, but the hundreds of small-business leaders who serve the community as employers, volunteers and contributors.
"It's the small businesses, I think, that really drive communities. If it wasn't for them, for all you in this room, I don't think communities like Lima would have the opportunity to prosper like they do," Walter said.
