The Red Deer Chamber of Commerce has made two significant announcements recently.

Firstly, the Chamber has announced its Business of the Year finalists.

Each year, as part of Small Business Week, the Chamber initiates a number of activities to promote and celebrate the contributions of businesses to Central Alberta’s strong private sector and vibrant community. The annual Business Awards Banquet is held to honour select companies that have demonstrated business excellence.

There are three categories in the Business of the Year awards including a business with one to 15 employees, 16-49 employees and businesses with 50 plus employees.

The nominated businesses in the category of one to 15 employees include Restaurant 27 & Lounge, Sky Wings Aviation Academy Ltd. and Soderquist Appraisals Ltd.

In the 16-49 employee category, the nominees are Care Industries Ltd., Family Services of Central Alberta and ZED99 and KG Country 95.5 a Division of Newcap Radio.

In the large business category which employees 50 plus people, the nominees include Scott Builders Inc., Servus Credit Union Ltd., and Sim’s Furniture Ltd.

Winners will be announced at the 2010 Business of the Year Awards Banquet, which will be held Oct. 19 at the Red Deer College Arts Centre.

Meanwhile, the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce has announced its 2010-2011 board of directors.

Newly elected members include Graham Barclay of Prairie Office Plus, Desiree Bauer of 2020 Mindsight Professional Development Services, Tyler Bowman of Reaction Marketing Solutions Ltd., Jim Brown of ABLE Evaluations Ltd., Sonia Sawyer of L.A. Radio Group Inc. and Jason Scheyen of Strata Energy Services Ltd.

Re-elected members include Dennis Cooper of Sky Wings Aviation Academy Ltd., Roxanne Kirton of Bower Place Shopping Centre and Brenda Kolasa of Visual Resolve Graphics.

Newly appointed to the board is May Johnson of the Bethany Care Foundation who chairs the Ambassadors Committee.

– Fawcett