Cornerstone Alliance Honors Business Leaders
(February 19, 2010) By Julie Swidwa - Herald Palladium
BENTON TOWNSHIP - A Benton Harbor beauty salon owner, a business leader and partners in the Silver Beach Make a Memory project were honored by Cornerstone Alliance and its affiliates Thursday.
They received awards at the annual Salute to Business event at the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center. About 625 people attended.
The 2009 Microenterprise Award went to Lotisa Torres, owner of VIP Hair Studio. The award is given to an area business with five or fewer full-time workers that has demonstrated growth and improvement over at least three years. The company also must show promise of continued success and innovation, Cornerstone Alliance President Wendy Dant Chesser said.
Torres opened VIP Hair Studio at 74 Wall St. in 2002. Within six years the business grew to become VIP Hair Studio and Spa at 1615 Mall Drive, Benton Harbor, where she provides space for herself and 11 independent contractors.
Torres said the best part of being a small-business entrepreneur is "being a role model for other aspiring business owners."
Chesser presented the 2009 Marie Franz Partner of the Year award to the collaborators in the Silver Beach Make a Memory project, including the Gast, Schalon, Upton and Whitwam families, the Upton Foundation, the Silver Beach Carousel Society, the Curious Kids' Museum, the City of St. Joseph and the Whirlpool Corp. The project added the carousel, ballroom, kids' museum and fountain to Silver Beach.
The award is given in honor of Marie Franz, the first female executive vice president of the Twin Cities Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Merlin Hanson Exemplary Business Leader award went to Chris Cook of Abonmarche Consultants. He began his career with Abonmarche in 1993 and now is president and CEO. Under his leadership, the company has increased its sales, customer base and staffing levels, Chesser said.
"Chris defines success as helping the communities he serves by meeting their goals with high-quality work for fair prices," Chesser said. "He believes strongly in building a corporate culture that is focused on the needs of a company's customers. Personally, he strives to work hard and be humble."
The Merlin Hanson award is given annually to the person who best exemplifies the attributes of Hanson, founding chairman of the Community Economic Development Corp., forerunner to today's Cornerstone Alliance and Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce.
Other awards included:
-- Platinum Stake awards went to Bridges to Digital Excellence, Inc.; Berrien Teachers Credit Union; Bud Distributing; Concept to Promotion, Inc.; D.W. Hammond Chocolates & Fudge; LLC, Express Employment Professionals; Fence Masters, LLC; Freedom Counseling/Freedom Screen; LeValley Chevrolet Buick Pontiac Cadillac GMAC, LUXE Design Group, O.K. Distributors Inc., Power in Motion Gymnastics & Fitness, Inc., Right at Home Southwest Michigan; Signature Automotive Group, Inc.; Southwest Michigan Regional Airport; Tower Tag & Label LLC; United Federal Credit Union; and Williamson Employment Services Inc.
Platinum awards go to companies that have created 100 jobs, increased sales or unit volume by 100 percent, expanded facilities by 50 percent or increased capital investment by at least $300,000.
-- Gold Stake awards, given to companies that have created 50 jobs, increased sales or unit volume by 50 percent, expanded facilities by 25 percent or increased capital investment by at least $200,000, went to Hartwell & Company, P.C., and Michigan Blood.
-- Silver Stake awards went to Abonmarche Consultants, Inc. and Hospice at Home. The awards are given to companies that have created 25 jobs, increased sales or unit volume by 25 percent, expanded facilities by 10 percent or increased capital investment by at least $100,000.
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