Small Business of the Year Award Winner Announced
Contact: Kate Noble, Economic Development Specialist, (505) 955-6915
In its fourth annual celebration of the contributions of small businesses, the City of Santa Fe named Big Jo True Value Hardware the 2008 Small Business of the Year.
Big Jo represents the best in Santa Fe businesses through its commitment to good employee benefit programs, excellent customer service and giving back to the community. It is also a leader in business growth and innovation, recent accomplishments and implementing green business practices.
The Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce and the City of Santa Fe joined forces this year for the 2008 Business Excellence Awards and the Santa Fe Small Business of the Year Award. The awards were presented at the Chambers annual Banquet on May 29th, 2008 at the Hilton of Santa Fe and honored a total of four local businesses
Nomination forms were accepted for a month prior to the judging and asked for information on seven criteria. Businesses were grouped by size according to the number of employees and were scored and compared by the judges based on the following:
§ Business growth
§ Significant accomplishments
§ Employee benefit programs, advancement potential and diversity
§ The role the business has played in the wellbeing of the Santa Fe community as a whole
§ Implementation of “green” business practices
§ Excellence in customer service
§ Unique, inspirational or visionary business or organizational practice
Four businesses stood out with leadership in all seven categories. The highest scoring business from each group was chosen for these years Business Excellence Award and the overall highest score was selected as the City of Santa Fe Small Business of the Year
The winners are as follows:
1-4 Employees – SantaFeDonations.com
5-20 Employees – Reflective Images Inc
21 + Employees – Brian McPartlon Roofing LLC
City of Santa Fe Small Business of the Year – Big Jo True Value Hardware Inc
SantaFeDonations.com was started to solve a growing need in Santa Fe. There are 955 nonprofits (according to the attorney General’s office) in Santa Fe and over 107 events that benefit non profit organizations. SantaFeDonations.com helps small businesses donate to non profit organizations in a way that is designed to bring more business back to the donor. From January 08 to April 08 there are over 1,000 gift certificates scheduled to go out on behalf of local businesses.
Reflective Images Inc strives to create beautiful jewelry in a business that supports a world community where all collaborate in the nurturance of a sustainable, prosperous future.
Reflective Images is a practical experiment in running a circle based business which is designed to benefit community through relationships that are nurtured by fair and equitable exchange. Every person inside and outside of the business is viewed as equal in their humanity. This has becomes the basis for testing business decisions, ranging from personnel matters to choosing suppliers. The goal is to create a life giving company that profits through a circle of mutually beneficial relationships in support of economy, ecology and community.
Brian McPartlon Roofing LLC has been a community based roofer in Santa Fe for 25 years. The company does commercial and residential, new and retro roofing. They specialize in modified bitumen and metal roofing and are often involved in special situations that require all types of roofing products.
Santa Fe is a 400 year old city with many historic buildings. Strict architectural codes require that almost all buildings are flat roofed with parapets. Over the years McPartlon Roofing has been fortunate to be involved in the challenges of re-roofing many of these buildings. The company has been awarded the New Mexico State Historic Preservation Award and the City of Santa Fe Heritage Preservation Award for roofing historic buildings.
Big Jo True Value Hardware Inc has served Santa Fe & Northern New Mexico with quality products and service for over 75 years. During the past year an increase in new customers has boosted sales more than 20%. Big Jo’s space was recently remodeled and it is still growing. The firm plans to have an additional 3000 square feet by early 2009.
The C de Baca’s have owned Big Jo for 25 years. Big Jo is known for its friendly service and professional help in tools, electrical, plumbing, lawn and garden, hardware, etc. As business owners Rick and Ron feel a strong sense of responsibility for the Santa Fe community and to their employees. They offer good wages, two bonuses a year, a 401k profit sharing contribution and flexible scheduling.
Big Jo was awarded the 2007 Keep Santa Fe Beautiful Small Business of the Year and the Best of Santa Fe Award from the Santa Fe Reporter in the category of Hardware Store.
