From The Tribune staff reports
IRONDALE — The Greater Irondale Chamber of Commerce (GICC) has announced its Small Business Awards winners at the Thursday, September 9 luncheon.
The winners were selected in four categories: Emerging (in business less than five years), 1-10 employees, 11-50 employees, and 51-100 employees.
Emerging Business (less than 5 years):
Frozen Rooster is a chicken and ice cream eatery located at the Shoppes of Grand River in Leeds. With hard work, burns, sweat, and tears, Mimi Leonard’s family-owned business has grown and flourished for the past two years. Even with the first year in pandemic mode, they gross over $1M in sales. Mimi is a leader in the business community by helping and supporting other small businesses in their challenges. She started the campaign: “Eat chicken and vote” to encourage people to register to vote. In addition, they support many schools and civic groups in the community. Mimi attends almost all chamber events, luncheons, ribbon cuttings, and even volunteers for the Chamber’s fundraising campaign.
1-10 Employees:
Stacey’s Style Studio is located off Crestwood Blvd. Stacey is very active in our community. She provides services including complete hair care for all ethnic groups and genders and sells retail hair care products, jewelry, and makeup. In addition, she offers free or discounted services, on occasion, to those in need of grooming and can’t afford the services. This mother of three has an everlasting passion for supporting our schools, teachers, and students and has served as President of Irondale Community School and Shades Valley High School Parent Teacher Association for over eight years. Currently, she is an administrator for the Irondale Community Forum on social media. Her focus has been to highlight the new and small businesses in Irondale and encourages the community to support them. She is a wealth of knowledge and has her finger on the pulse of the community. She also continuously supports a non-profit homeless organization located in the Center point area. Since Stacey has joined the Chamber, she has been a regular attendee at chamber events.
11-50 Employees:
Cox Pools is a leading residential and commercial pool builder and understands that each swimming pool is a unique reflection of the owner. They build pools and do business in several states; it is impressive that a multi-state contractor with a traveling team is so involved in the Chamber. The company started in 1991 with Richard Cox Sr. building ten pools with three employees. Today they have over thirty employees and build 40 pools per year in 13 states. Their company motto is “where culture and process work together,” They have a reputation for meeting and exceeding most challenging conditions. They are always looking for ways to participate in the community. They participated in the Police Department’s corn hole tournament, supported Bright Spot Foundation (a recovery center for men and includes a 12- step immersion), and fed the nursing staff at St. Vincent’s, to name a few. The owners lead by example and give time to employees to serve our neighbors. Their COO, Mike Davis, serves on the Chamber’s Board of Directors, and the company supports many of the Chamber’s events.
51-100 Employees:
Chick-fil-A (CFA) is known for their response, “It’s my pleasure.” They have a culture of giving back and have led the way in giving back during the pandemic. They have provided lunches to schools, first responders, frontline workers, and even the store employees in the Walmart complex at Eastwood Village. CFA Eastwood Village team is serving their community to the best of their ability while giving so many locals and businesses joy and a sense of hope that we are all in this together. Employees have often written a hand-written message on the customer’s bag this past year. In addition, CFA created new ways to serve their customers with the mobile ordering app, curbside service, and drive-thru during the pandemic. Sheila Kent, Marketing Director, is also president-elect on the Chamber’s board of directors. Sheila attends almost every event for the chamber, from ribbon cuttings to luncheons with a smiling face and a big personality. Her hard work in building relationships over the past year, along with their great staff, has kept their catering business booming throughout the pandemic.
These winners are now finalists for state awards through the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama.
For more information about the Chamber, please email director@irondalecoc.com, visit www.irondalecoc.com, ‘like’ them on Facebook @Irondale Chamber, or call (205) 401-6391.