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2010 We're For Business Award Winners

presented by SunTrust

On Tuesday, February 23, over 300 members of the Asheville business community gathered with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce to recognize eight local businesses at the fourth annual We're For Business Awards presented by SunTrust bank at the Crowne Plaza Tennis and Golf Resort. Eight companies were presented with awards for excelling in the categories of customer service, innovation, community service, and green practices.

Award recipients were selected by a panel of judges from the local business community including:

  • David Bailey, President & CEO: United Way of Asheville & Buncombe County
  • Annice Brown, Business Counselor: Small Business Technology Development Center
  • Jeff Covington, Chief Lending Officer: Forest Commercial Bank
  • Pat Horrocks, Owner: BlackBird Frame & Art
  • Harris Livingstain, Attorney: McGuire, Wood & Bissette, PA

Recipients of the Over the Top Customer Service award, presented by J. CREW, were selected for recognizing and addressing their customers’ needs through unique employee training programs, customer service policies and other customer satisfaction models. The 2010 Over the Top Customer Service award winners were Rezaz Restaurant (16 employees or more) and Trout Insurance Services (15 employees or fewer).


This year's recipients of the One for All Commitment to the Community award, presented by Pearlman's Carpet One Floor & Home, were the Eaton Corporation (16 employees or more) and the Mosaix Group (15 employees or fewer). The One for All awards recognize businesses that emphasize community involvement within their business models and among their employees, and that demonstrate this philosophy on a day-to-day basis among employees, clients and the overall business community.

Recipients of the Out on a Limb Innovation Award, presented by George's Stor-mor, were selected for discovering consumer needs and, through creative innovation, have been able to meet those needs. To qualify for this award a business may also demonstrate how creative problem solving led to new policies, processes, or applications to better serve the needs of its customers. The 2010 Out on Limb award recipients were Moog Music (16 employees or more) and Phoenix Possibilities (15 employees or fewer).

This year’s recipients of the Operating Green Practices award presented by Forest Commercial Bank were Deltec Homes (16 employees or more) and Vivid Image (15 employees or fewer). The Operating Green awards recognize businesses that have implemented green, environmentally friendly practices in their day-to-day operations.

Award videos were created by Stellar Media.