The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce awarded local businesses for the first ever We Mean Business awards.
Chamber officials say these awards are meant to spotlight the work, drive and resilience of local business owners, leaders and employees that have made their organizations successful through collaboration, innovation, technology and great customer service.
Cort Smith (left) with SmithWorx and David Fraser (right) with Fraser Wood Elements accepted the Best in Collaboration for the We Mean Business Awards
Best Collaboration
Cort Smith and David Fraser met at a Chamber event early this year and as they began discussing their businesses with each other they realized they had an overlap in their business models and similar mottos in business; customer service and attention to detail. A few weeks after meeting Cort presented David and his team with an impressive custom conference table project and David jumped at the opportunity to help Cort and the SmithWorx team. The businesses complement one another and when David is in his commercial opportunities consulting on natural wood design elements, he refers them to SmithWorx if there is a need for office furniture and vice versa. Cort and David plan to continue to partner with one another and hope other businesses in the area will learn from their partnership success.
MC Morris, Assistant Director of Tourism at Fredericksburg Economic Development & Tourism presented the award for Best in Collaboration.
Tom Rosner accepted the Most Innovative award for the We Mean Business Awards
Most Innovative
Renato’s has made innovation part of their business model to ensure they could continue serving their customers and keep their staff working during the pandemic. At the start of the pandemic like many local restaurants the struggle of keeping the business going was real, but they got creative and turned their parking lot into a sidewalk café with lights, umbrellas and greenery to continue service and keep an atmosphere people would enjoy. As the months got warmer, they provided patrons with unique opportunities to get out and dine with them while remaining socially distanced. Next month Rento’s will be installing a permanent state-of-the-art awning for their outdoor dining area that is intuitive to weather and extends when it rains or the sun hits just right.
MC Morris, Assistant Director of Tourism at Fredericksburg Economic Development & Tourism presented the award for Most Innovative.
Will Robinson with Third Eye View accepted theBest in Tech award for the We Mean Business Awards
Best in Tech
Third Eye View The world is rapidly changing. More and more businesses are starting to adopt IoT technology. The Internet of things (IoT) describes physical objects with sensors, processing ability, software, and other technologies that connect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the internet or other communications networks. Internet of things has been considered a misnomer because devices do not need to be connected to the public internet, they only need to be connected to a network and be individually addressable. Third Eye View offers top notch IoT security/cybersecurity, helping organizations gain a greater competitive edge in the market and enhance operational efficiency.
Kevin Marshall the Business Development Manager in Spotsylvania’s Department of Economic Development presented the award for Best in Tech.
Benevolence in Business (a local business with an exceptional brand, a good reputation and wide community outreach)
Hilldrup has been in the Fredericksburg area for almost 120 years, and giving back is inherent to the company. The organization has an internal committee called Hilldrup Cares that vets community partnership opportunities and also has the The Hilldrup Move-Up Fund that was created in 2019 and was developed to empower individuals and their families who need a “hand-up” to a more favorable situation. By providing a stepping-stone to a better future, recipients of the fund can feel empowered and hopeful to create additional positive life changes for the betterment of themselves and their families. With the support of The Community Foundation and local non-profit partners, the Hilldrup Move-Up Fund specifically assists those with housing needs who may not have the resources to address time-sensitive issues.
Courtney Swenson the Marketing Manager At Economic Development & Tourism Office of Stafford County presented the award for Benevolence in Business.
