2012 Pinnacle Awards Recognizes Leaders in Growth, Innovation and Community

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In an effort to recognize Gwinnett’s small businesses and entrepreneurs as pivotal to America’s economic growth and stability, the Gwinnett Chamber and Presenting Sponsor The Atlanta Journal-Constitution hosted the 2012 Pinnacle Awards on April 27. The event, themed by growth, success and community engagement, named the Overall Small Business of the Year and honored dozens of successful small businesses and entrepreneurs for extraordinary achievement.

ProCare Prosthetics and Orthotics Owners Stephen A. Schulte and Mariamne Schulte were awarded the 2012 Overall Gwinnett Small Business of the Year Award and were also the winner of Gwinnett’s Small Business of the Year for the 10 – 99 employee category.

Additional Small Business of the Year Awards were presented to Scott Satory with Service First Roofing for the 1 – 9 employee category and A.C. Myers III with The Myers Group for the 100+ employee category. Twenty-two additional small businesses were awarded Pinnacle Awards and named among the prestigious “Pinnacle Top 25″ for demonstrating unprecedented growth and contribution to the community.

“These risk-takers, innovators, and givers are the ones who create jobs and provide much-needed services for our community, leading to a better quality of life for everyone,” said Gwinnett Chamber President & CEO Jim Maran. “These are the leaders who are laying the foundation for a bright future full of hopes, dreams and opportunities. For this, these small business owners and non-profits deserve to be recognized and celebrated.”

Also featured at the Pinnacle Awards was the prestigious Pacesetter Award recognizing companies that have raced past the competition – displaying innovation and determination. This year’s Pacesetter Award was given to Cynthia Kaye, President & CEO of Logical Choice Technologies, Inc.

In addition, Gwinnett’s top non-profit organizations, whose generous and inspiring efforts can be seen and felt throughout Gwinnett, were also recognized at the awards luncheon. The following organizations are the winners of the 2012 Pinnacle Non-Profit Awards: Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services, Gwinnett Medical Center Foundation, Jacqueline Casey Hudgens Center for the Arts, and Rainbow Village, Inc.

And finally, the winner of the 2nd Annual Amazing Entrepreneur Business Plan Competition was announced with this year’s award going to CubeVibe’s Aaron Aycock, Founder & CEO, and Shara Aycock, Head of Operations. This competition is an initiative by Partnership Gwinnett, Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development and The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to foster new business development in Gwinnett County. It offers Gwinnett entrepreneurs a chance to win cash and prizes to support their businesses, based upon the quality of their business plans.