38thAnnual Event Sold Out at Hotel Bellwether
Create it Studio Wins Start-up of the Year
Avenue Bread Awarded Small Business of the Year
Ty McClellan of Hardware Sales Named Business Person of the Year
On Thursday, March 27, Whatcom Business Alliance and Business Pulse magazine hosted the 38th Annual Whatcom Business Awards Black & Gold Gala at Hotel Bellwether.
The sold-out event of 350 guests began with a cocktail hour that included a champagne toast and gourmet appetizers, followed by a seated dinner. At the gala event, outstanding achievements of business leaders in Whatcom County were recognized within four award categories: Start-Up Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Business Person of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement Award. Employee of the Year and Public Service Awards were also presented.
The award winners were:
Start-Up Business of the Year: Create it Studio
Start-up business finalists also included Bloomhaven Bottle Shop, Cooper Northwest, and King of Kings Window Cleaning.
Small Business of the Year: Avenue Bread
Small business finalists also included Bellingham Bay Builders, Stemma Brewing, and Summit Bookkeeping.
Business Person of the Year: Ty McClellan, Hardware Sales
Business person finalists also included Brad Barron, Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing; Stowe Talbot, Talbot Group; Trip Randall, Superfeet Worldwide.
Whatcom Lifetime Achievement Award: Mike Hammes, RAM Construction
Employee of the Year Award: Jennifer Boer, Mount Baker Vision Clinic
Public Service Award: John Perry, Mayor of Everson, WA
Telling the story of business success and community prosperity in Whatcom
“Every year, the WBA hosts the Whatcom Business Awards Black & Gold Gala to shine a spotlight on 15 individuals whose talents and achievements might otherwise go unrecognized,” said WBA Executive Director Barbara Chase, explaining the event’s effect.
“The WBA invests significant professional work to tell the story of every finalist, not just the ultimate award winner in each category,” she added. Each finalist is featured in a full-length article in the current March/April edition of Business Pulse, the magazine published by the WBA.
The event also marked Business Pulse magazine’s 50th year of publication, a bimonthly magazine published by Whatcom Business Alliance. Business Pulse wouldn’t be what it is today without the vision and dedication of Gerald Baron and Tony Larson. Gerald revolutionized the magazine; Tony and his wife, Danielle, carried it forward through challenges and growth. A commemorative video, chronicling the magazine, was featured, and two additional awards were presented.
“What sets this event apart,” Chase summarized, “is that we tell the story of the entire business community. We celebrate the bravery of start-ups, and we champion the established businesses that make up Whatcom’s employee base. The WBA also presented three additional awards — Lifetime Achievement, Employee of the Year, and Public Service — to underscore the importance of professional excellence and teamwork in organizations in the public and private sectors.”
