Neighborhood News Named 'Small Business of the Year' By Wesley Chapel Chamber

By Gary Nager

I don’t see how I could be more proud than I am today as I’m writing this, the day after my company won its first-ever award — and we still don’t even know who nominated us for it. On September 18, at Saddlebrook Resort & Spa Tampa, the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News took home one of five coveted awards given out during the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC)’s “Celebrating Excellence in Business” awards banquet, sponsored by Parks Ford of Wesley Chapel.

“I guess we’ve never won one of these before because we’ve never nominated ourselves and no one ever nominated us before,” I told the packed house of about 200 Chamber members and guests after being named the Chamber’s 2014 “Small Business of the Year.” “We’ve been too busy the last 20 years trying to make a living while providing as much news and information as possible about our areas to the people of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel.” I also was proud my mom Marilyn was in attendance. 

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Ours was the third award presented by Bay News 9 anchor Al Reuchel that evening, as first, the American Cancer Society (ACS), represented by my fellow Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Club members Robyn Liska and Jannah McDonald, took home the “Civic Association of the Year” honors. If you plan to participate in the ACS “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk at the Shops at Wiregrass mall on Sat., Oct. 25, you’ll understand why Jannah, Robyn and ACS are so deserving.

Also super-worthy is current Wesley Chapel Rotary (which meets Wednesdays at noon at Ciao! Italian Bistro in the Wiregrass mall) president, WCCC Ambassador and owner of A Focus on Fitness studio ) Kelly Mothershead, who, not surprisingly, took home this year’s WCCC “Volunteer of the Year” honors. There are a lot of very committed people in the Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary, but I can’t imagine that any business owner has ever donated more of his or her free time to help people in need than Kelly has this past year. 

After our “Small Business award,” Reuchel next named the “Large Business of the Year” winner, which was the event’s sponsor, Parks Ford.

Next, Dr. Stanley Giannet, the dynamic Provost of the new Pasco Hernando State College-Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch was named both this year’s “Business Leader of the Year” and next year’s “Honorary Mayor of Wesley Chapel,” which means that this year’s “Mayor,” Cathy Bickham, will be the last person “elected” by fund-raising vote, according to outgoing WCCC president Jeff Novotny, who also is the Chair of American Civil Engineers.

Novotny also won an award and gave away a few special recognitions before turning over the gavel to new WCCC Board president, Micah Richeson, D.C., of Cypress Creek Chiropractic. 

Congrats to event chair Jennifer Cofini of Parks Ford and her committee for a job well-done. For a complete list of the 2014  winners & finalists, visit WCNeighborhoodNews.com or WesleyChapelChamber.com.