July 29, 2011

The Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce held its 25^th Annual Business Excellence Awards (BEA) on Thursday, July 28, at the Monterey Conference Center.  Nearly 500 Peninsula business and community leaders were in attendance to show their support for the local businesses that make up the backbone of our community, and honor those businesses that have achieved excellence in their fields.

Presented by Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, the BEA Dinner featured wine from Ventana Vineyards and Bernardus Winery, along with live music and a silent auction. The ever-popular "Design-a-Table" contest was also back again this year, giving businesses a chance to showcase their products and services by creatively decorating a table of 10 and providing unique giveaways for attendees.

A performance by Dennis Murphy School of Music (a Glee arrangement of the Journey song Don’t Stop Believin’) also surprised attendees during the program. The presentation was organized by the Chamber’s Economic  Vitality Committee to promote the launch of LocalMotive, a new buy local program that will be online soon at www.mylocalmotive.org.

Congratulations to the 2011 Business Excellence Award Winners:

SERVICES TO RESIDENTS: Cardinale Moving and Storage

SERVICES TO BUSINESSES: Rapid Printers of Monterey

CONSTRUCTION & BUILDING SERVICES: Granite Construction

FINANCIAL AND INSURANCE: (Tie) Monterey Credit Union, Santa Barbara Bank & Trust

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES: Fenton & Keller, Attorneys at Law

RECREATION, ENTERTAINMENT, & EVENTS: MY Museum - Monterey County Youth Museum

DINING, FOOD & BEVERAGE: Tarpy's Roadhouse

EDUCATION: Monterey Peninsula College

ACCOMMODATIONS: Bernardus Lodge

REAL ESTATE: Cannery Row Company

MARKETING & MEDIA: Monterey County Weekly

ARTS & CULTURE: Forest Theater Guild

HEALTHCARE & SENIOR SERVICES: Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula

PERSONAL SERVICES: Spa on the Plaza

RETAIL AND WHOLESALE: Whole Foods Market

NONPROFITS: Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County

BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS: Professional Women's Network

GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC UTILITIES, TRANSPORTATION: City of Monterey

BEA COMMITTEE DESIGN-A-TABLE AWARD: Fish Hopper

BEA CHAIR DESIGN-A-TABLE AWARD: Graniterock