Shelby County Chamber honors small businesses at luncheon
Published 7:54 pm Tuesday, May 27, 2025
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
The Shelby County Chamber awarded some of the best small businesses in the area during the Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21. (Reporter photos/Dave Domescik)
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By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer
PELHAM – The Shelby County Chamber honored outstanding small businesses in the area at its annual Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, May 21 at the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena.
The Small Business of the Year Awards are a joint collaboration of Calera Main Street, Columbiana Main Street, the Montevallo Chamber of Commerce, Montevallo Main Street and the Shelby County Chamber.
Businesses up for awards were classified into the following five categories:
– Category 1: One to five employees, open for one year or more
– Category 2: Six to 10 employees, open for one year or more
– Category 3: 12-20 employees, open for one year or more
– Category 4: More than 21 employees, open for more than one year
– Category 5: Open less than one year as of March 31 with less than 25 total employees
In order to qualify for the awards, businesses had to have ownership that has not been convicted of a felony, be able to prove financial stability and have a current license to do business in Shelby County or a municipality inside Shelby County. Self-nominations for the award were also accepted.
Businesses were also evaluated for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024 based on the following criteria:
– Staying power: A substantiated history as an established business (Categories 1-4)
– Growth in number of employees: A benchmark to judge the impact of the business on the Shelby County job market (Categories 1-4)
– Increase in sales and/or unit volume: An indication of continued growth (Categories 1-4)
– Response to adversity: Provide written examples of problems faced in the nominee’s business and the methods used to solve those problems (All categories)
– Evidence of contribution to aid community-oriented projects: Provide written examples of personal time and resources utilized (All categories)
Kevin Morris, the chair of the Shelby County Chamber, discussed the purpose of hosting the annual luncheon, now in its 13th year. Morris also outlined statistics supporting the importance of small businesses throughout the country and world.
“The primary purpose for hosting this annual business celebration is to recognize the tremendous economic impact that small businesses have on our county, our region and our country,” Morris said. “There are 33 million small businesses in the U.S. today. Small businesses employ half of all private sector employees throughout the United States.”
“Small businesses generate roughly 64 percent of every new job that’s created annually. 53 percent of U.S. sales are generated by small businesses. Small businesses pay 39 percent of all private payroll in the country. One out of every 13 U.S. workers works for a small business. Small businesses account for 99.4 percent of all businesses in the state of Alabama.”
After presenting the staggering statistics that showed the importance of small businesses, Morris introduced the luncheon’s guest speaker, Mechelle Wilder.
Wilder is a former chamber chair of the Shelby County Chamber who is also the founding partner of ARC Realty, the largest privately-owned real estate company in the state of Alabama. Wilder has 25 years in the real estate profession and was a member of the top 50 women leaders in Alabama for 2024.
After listing more of Wilder’s accomplishments, the guest speaker took to the stage to further emphasize the importance of small businesses.
“Small businesses are important to job creation, innovation, economic growth and the overall prosperity of our nation,” Wilder said. “Small business owners, like many of us, are seen as scary or maybe a bit crazy, but I simply believe that we are people that have a faith and a trust in God that nothing shall be impossible.”
Wilder recounted her life story to the audience, describing growing up in Montgomery as one of 11 children. She described her parents as entrepreneurial and successful, encouraging her to work tirelessly in service of others and leaving places better than originally found.
“This is where we learned the value of hard work and that the client always comes first,” Wilder said.
After recounting more of her life leading to her unprecedented success at ARC Realty, Wilder discussed the power of following your calling in life despite the risks.
“Running a business often feels like a relentless grind,” Wilder said. “There are sacrifices and challenges that impact not only ourselves, but our families as well. Nevertheless, we continue to fight on. Planning, goal setting and preparation have been vital keys to my success.”
After Wilder’s remarks, Morris awarded her with a token commemorating her dedication to the Shelby County Chamber and service to Shelby County as a whole through her work with ARC Realty.
Traci Fox, the owner of T. Fox SalonSpa in Hoover and a previous Small Business of the Year award winner, presented the nominees and winners in this year’s competition.
The following businesses were nominated in this year’s Small Business of the Year Awards:
– A.C. Legg, Inc.
– Adventurer’s Coffee Co.
– Amazing Flowers & Occasions
– Business Telephones, Inc.
– Closettec Inc. of Alabama
– The Copper Train
– creACTive Wellness Center
– Creations Galore and Moore
– Czeskleba TV Service
– Elizabeth Grandy Photography
– The Farm Company
– Irons Media Group
– Jennifer Hand Travel Pro
– Joffrion Art + Design
– Just a Tish, Wine & More
– McClendon Counseling & Consulting, LLC
– Meri Moon
– Montevallo Drug
– NBSocials
– Oversoul Brewing
– The Rinehart Insurance Agency, LLC
– Sawyer Solutions, LLC
– SERVPRO of Birmingham
– Siluria Brewing Company
– Smiley Brothers Specialty Foods
– RealtySouth—Chelsea
– Tin Top Bar-B-Que 2
– VanGogh Window Fashions
– Vulcan Steel Products
– Vulcan Termite & Pest Control
“Congratulations to each of our outstanding nominees,” Fox said. “Your efforts and investment to our community are sincerely appreciated.”
Fox explained before revealing the winners that nominees were reviewed by an independent panel of judges. The following companies were announced as winners at the luncheon:
– Category 1: Adventurer’s Coffee Co.
– Category 2: The Rinehart Insurance Agency, LLC
– Category 3: Sawyer Solutions, LLC
– Category 4: A.C. Legg, Inc.
– Category 5: Meri Moon
“Congratulations to our 2025 recipients of the Shelby County Small Business of the Year (awards),” Fox said. “To all of our outstanding nominees, we appreciate each of you choosing to do business right here in Shelby County, the best county in the state.”
For more information on the Shelby County Chamber, visit Shelbychamber.org.
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