By Matt Flumerfelt
VALDOSTA — The Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce named Ellis, Ricket & Associates the 2009 Small Business of the Year during the Salute to Small Business Early Bird Breakfast at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center Thursday.
The architectural design firm was one of four finalists for the award, the others being Confetti & Lace, Eye Associates of South Georgia LLC, and Langdale Place. The winner was chosen by an independent panel of judges.
“Ellis, Ricket & Associates has etched its handprint in the structure and appearance of our community,” said Britt McClane of Carson McClane Funeral Home, winner of last year’s award. “Life in Valdosta has been enriched thanks to the work of Ellis, Ricket & Associates.”
Upon accepting the award on behalf of the firm, Ken Ricket said, “Thinking big is important, but the other part of that is to think positive.”
Ricket’s statement touched on the Chamber’s theme this year of Think B.I.G., an initiative to encourage individuals and businesses to redirect their spending to local businesses to keep money in the local economy. The B.I.G. in the Think B.I.G. slogan stands for Buy In Greater Valdosta. Ricket also mentioned some “great news” that would be announced in about four months that would “be a success for this community for years to come.”
Think B.I.G. Chairman Jay Prince pointed out in his remarks that every dollar spent in the local economy brings a $1.63 return.
The keynote speaker for the Salute to Small Business Early Bird Breakfast was Terri Denison, the Georgia district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
“A lot of lessons are being learned from this very difficult time,” Denison said. “The new normal is not going to look like the normal we saw in 2005 or 2008.”
Among the lessons Denison outlined was the idea that business competition isn’t so much about competing with other businesses as it is about competing against mediocrity. Denison also stressed the importance of taking an analytical approach to business decisions.
