The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for the 2009 Emerald Awards. The Emerald Awards is a program honoring businesses in the Eugene/Springfield area that contribute to our community’s vitality and quality of life by implementing sustainable business practices. Those practices include significant financial, social and environmental contributions to the community.
The awards recognize winners and finalists in categories that represent the core principles of sustainability: growth, community caring, environmental values and innovation. A Business of the Year award will exemplify each of the preceding categories.
The Emerald Awards provide businesses with recognition for their accomplishments and positive exposure among customers, employees, other stakeholders and community members/leaders. he awards program will culminate in an elegant awards ceremony.
A selection committee of Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce members reviewed 36 nominations before announcing the Business of the Year winner and Emerald Award finalists. The committee chose 12 Emerald Award finalists across four categories: community caring, environmental values, growth and innovation. The Business of the Year award is given to one business that excelled in all four categories.
Over the last six years, the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce has received nearly 500 nominations applauding members of the business community. The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce developed the Emerald Awards program to honor businesses in the Eugene and Springfield area that contribute to our community’s vitality and quality of life through sustainable business practices. Each award represents a core principle of sustainability and demonstrates the important connection between the success of local businesses and the quality of life in Eugene/Springfield.
Sponsors of the 2009 Emerald Awards include presenting sponsor Isler CPA, along with Detlefsen Nel & Associates LLC, Chambers Productions, Jones & Roth CPAs and Business Consultants, Eugene Water & Electric Board and Bank of America.
Emerald Award finalists are as follows:
Emerald Award for Community Caring recognizes leadership by businesses that give generously of time, money, goods or services for the enrichment of the community. Finalists for 2009 include:
- Kernutt Stokes Brandt & Co. LLP
- Pacific Continental Bank
- The Register-Guard
Emerald Award for Environmental Values honors businesses that are leaders in preserving the environment and/or that have taken particular measures to be exceptional stewards of our natural resources. Finalists for 2009 include:
- Hamilton Construction
- SOLARC Architecture & Engineering, Inc.
- Adam’s Sustainable Table
Emerald Award for Growth honors businesses that have demonstrated growth through job creation and revenue increases over a 24-month period. Finalists for 2009 include:
- Café Yumm!
- Oakshire Brewing
- Turtle Mountain LLC
Emerald Award for Innovation honors existing businesses that have enhanced or re-invented their products, services, or practices through the successful implementation of innovative ideas. It also applies to emerging businesses with a niche or idea that have demonstrated rapid early growth.
- Avant Assessment
- Floragenex
- Willamette Valley Cancer Institute and Research Center
