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Press & Media
Posted on Wed, Jun. 19, 2002
Peninsula Chamber honors top businesses
By KECHIA SMITH-GRAN
ksmith-gram@montereyherald.com
Some of the area's best and brightest businesses will shine tonight at
the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce 16th annual Business
Excellence Awards.
"The evening is run like the Academy Awards," said Phyllis
Grillo-Weinbrenner, director of special events for the chamber. Last
year's winners will present the awards to the finalists in 16
categories.
"Basically the finalists were culled down from a larger list of
nominees. They then compete for their category, and they all compete for
the Business of the Year," she said. The Monterey Peninsula Chamber will
host an awards dinner in January to announce the winner.
Graniterock Co. is the reigning business of the year, and is back as a
finalist in the technology/manufacturing category. Mike Chernetsky,
manager at Graniterock's Seaside-Sand City branch is pleased with the
honor of being a finalist, and says he does not take it for granted.
"This honor has opened up doors to us - people had the perception that
we were only a rock and sand company, and now they know that we cater to
home and property owner, too," said Chernetsky.
He attributes the company's success to the Monterey Peninsula's global
business environment.
"I'm sure we have an advantage in that the money spent in this area is
worldwide money, not just from our locals," Chernetsky said.
The categories for the business excellence awards run the gamut from
"family friendly" to "non-profit" to "hospitality/tourism."
Two of the finalists for Rookie of the Year are Byte Technology,
a Web design company, and Valet Limousine Services, a high-end transport
company.
"We exceeded our one-year goals since opening, and now we're a
finalist," said Clarence Low, co-founder of Byte Technology. "This is
exciting."
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