Brandon Chamber Names Small Business of the Year Finalists

The Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce has announced the 15 finalists for the 2012 Small Business of the Year Awards.

Winners will be named on Thursday, Oct. 18 at the Small Business of the Year Awards Gala at the Sheraton Tampa East Hotel, 10221 Princess Palm Ave., Tampa. There will be a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. followed by the dinner at 7 p.m.

The objective of the Small Business of the Year Awards is to recognize and honor small businesses from the Brandon area that have demonstrated leadership,  positive growth and development, creativity and integrity in operating a business, as well as a commitment to community service.

This year’s finalists for businesses with one to five employees are

Ivey Carpet & Flooring, 333 N. Falkenburg Rd., Tampa

The Mary and Martha House/Second Hand Rose Boutique, 100 E. Shell Point Rd., Ruskin

Moon Law Group, 705 N. Parsons Ave., Brandon

Finalists for businesses with six to 15 employees are:

ACE Heating & Cooling,of Brandon

Bivins & Hemenway, P.A., 1060 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico

Cox Electric, 11611 E. Old Hillsborough Ave., Seffner

Finalists for businesses with at least 16 employees are:

The Original Beef O’ Brady’s, 210 S. Kings Ave., Brandon

Ed Morse Cadillac of Brandon, 11020 Causeway Blvd., Brandon

The Rack Sushi Bar and Billiards Lounge, 1025 W. Brandon Blvd., Brandon

Finalists for home-based businesses include:

Ion Apparel & Advertising Specialties of Brandon

Morningstar Electric of Brandon

Yard Guards on Doody of Riverview

And finalists for minority or women-owned businesses are:

A Touch of Wellness, 915 Oakfield Dr., Brandon

The Waiting Game Publication, of Lithia

Tutoring Club, 4385 Lynx Paw Trail, Valrico

Individual reservations for the gala are $35.

For information, contact Laura Simpson at 813-689-1221, ext. 8821, or email lsimpson@brandonchamber.com.