STEPHEN HEMELT – Orange County Small Business Owners, Champions Celebrated for Big Impact – Orange Leader

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The Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year was Innovative Air Solutions.

Kay DeCuir, Ida Schossow and Dana Espinal

Proficio Surgical Assistants was named Small Business Development Center Service Business of the year.

Kay DeCuir, Ida Schossow and Dana Espinal

The Vidor Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year was Texas Built Cabinets.

The Bridge City Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year was Total Impressions Cryotherapy Wellness Center.

Large business investments, construction in all directions and the promise of future jobs.

Take a drive through Orange County these days — which means dodging heavy machinery — and you’ll see the economic push being led by some big brand names.

However, that does not tell the whole story.

Small businesses and local entrepreneurs still form the backbone that drives the economy here at home.

It was celebrated recently during the Small Business Annual Awards Banquet hosted by The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Lamar State College Port Arthur.

SBDC’s focus area includes Bridge City, Orange and Vidor and surrounding municipalities.

SBDC Executive Director Dana Espinal hosted the annual event to celebrate local professionals and small businesses.

“It’s important to highlight achievements in our community that encourage continued economic development,” she said.

Some of the leaders of these local institutions offered insight into their success.

The Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year was Innovative Air Solutions.

Founder Robert Currie said, “we’ve been blessed over everything. I feel like I owe this community because this community has supported me and my family for many years. We love the people in this community. You couldn’t find a better place to live.”

The Vidor Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year was Texas Built Cabinets.

Owner Crystal Shafer said, “we build cabinets and we build them well. We provide great customer service and we guide you through the process of designing, building, installing and any other support you may need.”

The Bridge City Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year was Total Impressions Cryotherapy Wellness Center.

“We felt very blessed and honored to receive the award as there are many great businesses that serve our community,” said owner Terri Gauthier.

“I started making wigs because I had a best friend and sister-in-law go through breast cancer and losing her hair was a huge hurdle to overcome. I knew how important it was for them to find something that could get them to feel comfortable.”

Proficio Surgical Assistants was named Small Business Development Center Service Business of the year.

“We have been very blessed for the success our company has had in such a relatively short period of time. The company is adding three new contracts in northwest Houston and we are also looking to expand in Dallas,” said CEO Kirk Pruitt.

The Small Business Development Center’s Small Business Champion of the Year was Orange Chamber President Ida Schossow, who said, “just being able to help the businesses is what I would say is the most rewarding.”

Orange Leader Marketing Consultant Clark Marshall and I were fortunate enough to attend the banquet in person.

We watched as each of the recognized community leaders above were awarded special recognitions and enjoyed a video presentation of their acceptance speeches.

It was a wonderful evening celebrating the people and hard work that make Orange County and Southeast Texas a special place.

And things are just getting started.

Stephen Hemelt is publisher at Orange Newsmedia, which produces Orange Leader, orangeleader.com and Orange Living Magazine. He can be found at stephen.hemelt@orangelleader.com.