Perk’s, Family Health Care win biz awards

Van Wert independent

Family Health Care of Northwest Ohio won the “Small Business of the Year” award while Perk’s Café was named the “Microenterprise of the Year” during the 2011 Salute to Small Business Luncheon hosted by the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce and held at Willow Bend Country Club.

The Sycamore Drive-In on Westwood Drive was the other finalist for the Microenterprise of the Year award, while Alexander & Bebout and P&L Fertilizer were also finalists for the Small Business of the Year award.

In addition to plaques presented by sponsors for the event, both top award winners were also presented proclamations from Ohio Treasurer of State Josh Mandel by Joe Forkin, a regional representative.

Laura Harshman, owner of Perk’s Café, said she was surprised at receiving the award.

“That applause is really cool,” Harshman said after the announcement that her business won the Microenterprise Award, which is for businesses with 10 or fewer employees and gross revenue of less than $1 million in 2010. Harshman also thanked her family, customers and her banker, in that order, for her business’ success, which includes a new carryout location on South Washington Street.

Family Health Care of Northwest Ohio was the first non-profit organization to win the Small Business of the Year award, which is for businesses with fewer than 250 employees and less than $10 million in gross receipts last year.

Prior to the awards announcements, those attending the luncheon viewed a video profile of each of the finalists in both categories. The video was created and produced by Vantage Interactive Media students Tiffany Hahn and Caitlin Debatin under the direction of instructor Jill Dewert.

Other nominees for awards this year included Advanced Biological Marketing, Animal Clinic of Van Wert, DeShia, Hall’s Lumber, Home Health Care Solutions, Ink Again, Miller Precision, Statewide Ford Lincoln, Taylor Auto Sales, Universal Lettering and Van Wert Vision Center.

Eligible applicants are judged on business history and performance, staff training and motivation, community involvement and customer service.

Sponsors for the awards are Citizens National Bank and Times-Bulletin Media.