The St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce business award winners gathered for a group shot before the awards luncheon. Pictured (l to r) are: Tom Sander of Coherent Technical Services, Inc. (CTSI), Lighthouse Award; Amy Thompson, Lola Belle Company, Emerging Business Award; Margaret Sawyer, Old Line Bank, Chamber Board Chair; Joe Slater, SMECO, Community Service Award; and James Moran, First Home Mortgage, Beacon Award. Photo courtesy St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce.

California, MD — The St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce held its annual Business Awards Luncheon and Business Showcase May 13 at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center. At the luncheon four chamber members were given annual awards and then the showcase followed featuring 60 booths scattered around the center’s second building.

At the sold-out luncheon, Chamber Board Chair Margaret Sawyer (shown) pointed out that the majority of the organization’s members are small businesses. “We serve to be member-focused in all that we do,” she said. Sawyer proudly noted that the chamber’s membership retention rate is more than 90 percent.

This year’s award winners were:
• Beacon Award (employs fewer than 15 people) to First Home Mortgage, which started in 2007 and had shown growth in employees, customers and community participation.
• Lighthouse Award (16 or more employees) to Coherent Technical Services, Inc. (CTSI), established in 2005. They have shown annual growth and a continuing reputation for development of innovative solutions to problems facing their clients.
• Emerging Business Award to Lola Bell Company, started with founder Amy Thompson and one part-time employee. They have expanded from a gift and interior design store to include a full furniture showroom.
• Community Service Award to SMECO for a long history of community support, including sponsoring events to encourage students to excel in math, science and technology.

In addition to the business showcase there were four seminars throughout the afternoon followed by a closing reception.

Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com