ANNUAL AWARD HIGHLIGHTS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS OF LOCAL BUSINESSES  

The Fort Worth Chamber is proud to announce the finalists for the distinguished Small Business of the Year Award, proudly presented by Bank of Texas. This annual accolade not only acknowledges exceptional achievement but also pays homage to the tenacity and excellence displayed by small businesses that embody exemplary "Best Practices." 

The Small Business of the Year Award stands as a testament to the city's vibrant entrepreneurial spirit. Presented by Bank of Texas, this award underscores the importance of fostering a dynamic business environment that nurtures innovation and growth. 

The award encompasses diverse categories, catering to businesses of varying sizes and stages of development. The initial judging round employed blind judging, where the judges assessed the companies without being aware of their names. View category finalists below:  

• 1 to 20 Employees: Acknowledging the dynamism of smaller enterprises, this category honors businesses with a workforce ranging from 1 to 20 employees, and a commendable business journey of at least 3 years as of May 1, 2023. 
  • 6^th Avenue Storytelling; 6th Ave Storytelling 
  • Kwedar & Co.; Kwedar & Co. | Fort Worth Marketing and Public Relations (kwedarco.com) 
  • Oates Metal Deck & Building Products, Inc.; Metal Deck Supplier | Oates Metal Deck & Building Products, Inc. 

• 21 to 50 Employees: Encompassing slightly larger businesses, this category extends its recognition to enterprises boasting a staff of 21 to 50 employees, and a track record of 3 years or more in business by May 1, 2023. 
  • Patterson Law Group; Fort Worth Injury Law Firm | Patterson Law Group (pattersonpersonalinjury.com) 
  • Shield Engineering Group; Shield Engineering Group – Fort Worth, TX 
  • Varghese Summersett; Fort Worth Criminal Defense Lawyer | Varghese Summersett (versustexas.com) 

• 51 to 150 Employees: Celebrating the accomplishments of medium-sized businesses, this category embraces those with 51 to 150 employees and a noteworthy business journey of at least 3 years by May 1, 2023. 
  • Ampersand Coffee; Ampersand Coffee (ampersandtx.com) 
  • Auticon USA; Home - auticon US 
  • Morton Industries; Home - Morton Industries 

• Emerging Business: Shining a spotlight on burgeoning businesses, this category celebrates those with 1 to 100 employees and an impressive business trajectory of fewer than 3 years by May 1, 2023. This category echoes the potential for innovation and growth in the early stages of business evolution. 
  • Divine Intervention Recovery; Intensive Outpatient Treatment - Divine Intervention Recovery 
  • Lendio DFW; Lendio DFW.com 
  • mFORCE Capital; mForce Capital 

The selection process involved rigorous evaluations based on a set of crucial criteria: 

• Talent: From attracting and retaining talent to fostering training and development, this category accounts for 45% of the evaluation. 
• Business Challenges and Solutions: Addressing significant business challenges faced in 2022 and the subsequent solutions applied holds a 30% weight in the evaluation. 
• Community Involvement and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives: Recognizing the significance of community engagement and commitment to diversity and inclusivity, this category contributes 25% to the overall evaluation. 

The Fort Worth Chamber extends its heartfelt gratitude to its esteemed panel of judges for the 2023 Small Business of the Year Award, whose expertise and dedication have been instrumental in identifying the finalists that truly exemplify Fort Worth's entrepreneurial dynamism. 

"I enjoyed the opportunity to be a judge for the FWC's Small Business of the Year Awards, helping identify the finalists,” said Drew Hayden, General Manager of The Renaissance Worthington Fort Worth Hotel. “With 34 years under my belt at Marriott International, a company that deeply values its employees, I found the awards' emphasis on talent attraction and retention especially interesting. To see a company have strong guiding principles in inclusivity, open-door policies, training/onboarding, and retainment is so refreshing. In today's landscape, it's not always easy to focus on things other than day-to-day operations, but to focus on company culture demonstrates both resilience and the acknowledgement that your team is an asset. Reading the strategies of these small companies was a breath of fresh air and has given me some great ideas to implement within my own company."

As the countdown to the award ceremony begins, the Fort Worth Chamber looks forward to celebrating the success stories and innovative practices of these remarkable small businesses. With the support of Bank of Texas and the visionary efforts of these entrepreneurs, the city's business landscape is poised for continued growth and distinction. The Small Business of the Year Award is presented annually at the Fort Worth Chamber’s State of the City Address, presented by Simmons Bank.