The Salt Lake Chamber has announced it annual Small Business Award winners. Honorees were announced at the organization’s Small Business Summit: Ignite & Inspire, held at the Salt Lake City Marriott University Park Hotel and Conference Center.
“Small businesses are the beating heart of Utah’s economy and vitally important to the Salt Lake Chamber,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance. “Not only do these entrepreneurial men and women make up nearly 75 percent of our membership, but they are also the driving force behind our state’s economic success.
“Small businesses employ more than 557,000 people, nearly half of Utah’s private workforce,” Miller said. “The Salt Lake Chamber is proud to recognize their work and honor those smallbusiness owners who are making a difference.”
Those honored at the half-day conference are:
• Small Business of the Year: LUX Catering & Events, a boutique-style catering and event production company based in Salt Lake City.
• Veteran Owned Business of the Year: Hamlet Homes, a 25-year-old homebuilder that has completed 3,600 homes in 60 communities. It also is based in Salt Lake City.
• Entrepreneur of the Year: Beddy’s, an innovator of zippered bedding sold online and at local retailers. The company is based in West Jordan.
• Small-Business Champion: The Enterprise — Utah’s Business Journal is a 48-year old weekly business newspaper based in Salt Lake City.
The chamber’s Small Business Summit provided small-business owners, managers and entrepreneurs the opportunity to come together, learn new tools, gain practical skills and make invaluable connections to help support the growth and success of small business in Utah, the organization said. Those in attendance had the opportunity to attend breakout sessions featuring topics such as strategic planning, marketing and sales, finding and retaining talent, as well as others.
The summit’s keynote speaker was Sarah Calhoun, founder and owner of Red Ants Pants. Tired of wearing men’s work pants that didn’t fit, Calhoun designed pants that would fit, function and flatter working women. Red Ants Pants is based out of White Sulphur Springs, Montana where the storefront, distribution center and international headquarters are located in an historic saddle shop.