Tulsa Regional Chamber Honors Small Businesses at Summit Awards Event
SMALL BUSINESS LEADERS: Back row: From left, Justin McLaughlin, executive vice president and COO of Tulsa Regional Chamber; Jacob Johnson, principal and co-founder of Gitwit; David Chen, owner and operator of Chick-fil-A at Southroads Shopping Center; Dave Hembree, president of Sawyer Manufacturing Company; Frauke Petersen, CEO and owner of Luxa Enterprises. Front row: From left, Allison Dickens, owner of Ludger’s Bavarian Cakery and chair of the Tulsa Small Business Connection; Pete Patel, president and CEO of Promise Hotels; Tina Patel, CFO of Promise Hotels; May Yang, owner of Flash Flood Print Studios; Barbara Thornton, wife of the late Don Thornton; Lindsay Jordan, owner of Write On Fundraising; Rose Washington-Jones, CEO of TEDC Creative Capital and Chair of the Tulsa Regional Chamber. Not pictured: Dana Weber, president and CEO of Webco Industries
The Tulsa Regional Chamber honored eight area small businesses at its Tulsa Small Business Summit & Awards recently. The Tulsa Small Business Connection, a program of the Tulsa Regional Chamber that educates and empowers northeast Oklahoma’s small businesses, hosts the annual event to celebrate the impact small businesses have on the regional economy.
“Providing resources and opportunities to elevate small businesses is critical to northeast Oklahoma’s success,” says Rose Washington-Jones, CEO of TEDC Creative Capital and chair of the Tulsa Regional Chamber. “Small businesses bring vibrancy, innovation and growth to the community, and it’s an honor to recognize these remarkable organizations for their contributions.”
The 2021 Small Business Award winners are Small Business Person of the Year: Lindsay Jordan, Write On Fundraising; Rising Star (Entrepreneur of the Year): Flash Flood Print Studios; Entrepreneurial Success: Webco Industries; Family Owned Small Business of the Year: Promise Hotels; Manufacturer of the Year: Sawyer Manufacturing Company; Diverse Small Business Champion: Chick-fil-A at Southroads Shopping Center; Small Business Pioneer: Gitwit; and Lifetime Achievement Award: Don Thornton, Don Thornton Automotive Group.
“In addition to honoring Tulsa-area small businesses, the summit is an opportunity to learn and grow from your peers,” says Allison Dickens, owner of Ludger’s Bavarian Cakery and chair of the Tulsa Small Business Connection.
Small Business Person of the Year Lindsay Jordan founded Write On Fundraising to provide fundraising resources and solutions to nonprofits across the region. Jordan credits the Tulsa community for Write On Fundraising’s rapid growth and expansion into new markets in just over three years.
In addition to the awards presentation, the event featured remarks from Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum and a keynote presentation from Coach JC, a Tulsa-area entrepreneur, business coach and nationally recognized speaker.
“Small businesses represent the overwhelming majority of employers in northeast Oklahoma, bringing new jobs and new ideas to the region,” says Justin McLaughlin, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Tulsa Regional Chamber. “Supporting the small business community is critical to the Tulsa region’s long-term prosperity, and we’re grateful to recognize their far-reaching impact.”
