Awards event rolls out new Veteran-Owned Business Award
(FLINT, Mich) – After receiving hundreds of nominations for the 12th Art of Achievement Awards, the Flint & Genesee Group awarded 18 awards — including the inaugural Veteran-Owned Business Award — to some of the many organizations and individuals making a positive impact in Genesee County.
“Every day, individuals and organizations across Flint & Genesee are making meaningful contributions that make our community a great place to live, work and visit,” said Tim Herman, CEO of Flint & Genesee.
Herman added: “The Art of Achievement Awards give us an opportunity to celebrate those efforts and recognize the people and businesses helping move our region forward.”
The honorees for three awards were selected internally by the Flint & Genesee Group. They include:
- Art Hurand Award – Terry Pickard, CTA
- Charles Stewart Mott Award – Dan Kildee
- Economic Development Project of the Year – Kais-AIR
Flint & Genesee Group also selected the inaugural recipient of the Veteran-Owned Business Award, in collaboration with the award sponsor, Genesee County Veterans Services. Beginning next year, nominations for the award will be accepted as part of the Art of Achievement Awards nomination process.
“This year, we introduced a new award designed to recognize a veteran-owned business that has created meaningful employment for veterans or provided outstanding services to veterans,” said Herman. “We are honored to recognize Sharp Funeral Homes, a family-owned business that goes above and beyond to recognize and support veterans through the thoughtful services and tributes it provides.”
The remaining 14 award recipients were selected from nominations submitted by the public. Two independent committees reviewed entries: one focused on business awards and the other on hospitality and tourism. Comprised of local professionals and industry leaders, the committees evaluated nominees based on the strength of their accomplishments and the quality of the nomination materials submitted.
Honorees included:
Hospitality Awards, presented by Explore Flint & Genesee
- Attraction of the Year – Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad
- Bryant “BB” Nolden Community Champion – Jeff Skigh
- Certified Tourism Ambassador of the Year – Crystal M. Dillard, CTA
- Frontline Ambassador of the Year – Gregory Ahejew, CTA, FIM
- Hotel Ambassador of the Year – Melanie Celinski, CTA, Northern Hotels Group
- Hotel of the Year – Hilton Garden Inn Flint Downtown
- Restaurant of the Year – Blondie’s Food & Spirits
Business Awards, presented by the Flint & Genesee Chamber
- Business Impact Award – Dort Financial Credit Union
- Claire M. White Award – Jamie-Lee Venable
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champion – Fernco, Inc.
- Minority-owned Business Award – MexiCrunch LLC
- Nonprofit Impact Award – Shelter of Flint
- Small Business Award – Lurvey Construction
- Young Professional Leader Award – Esha Brown
Nearly 600 people registered to attend the event, which was held at the FIM Capitol Theatre in downtown Flint.
The presenting sponsor was Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network. Additional sponsors included Huntington Bank (program sponsor), Al Serra Auto Plaza (red carpet sponsor), ChoiceOne Bank (photography sponsor), Flatrock, Inc. (theatre sponsor), NorthGate (registration sponsor), WJRT ABC12 (emcee sponsor), GISD (entertainment sponsor), Security Credit Union (dessert sponsor), and Synergy Senior Management (accessibility sponsor). Seating section sponsors included Dort Financial Credit Union, Mott Community College, Patriot Ambulance and Yeo & Yeo.
Individual awards sponsors included Andrews Hooper Pavlik (AHP); Communities First, Inc; Consumers Energy; ELGA Credit Union; Financial Plus Credit Union; Flint Bishop Airport; Food Bank of Eastern Michigan; Genesee County Veterans Services; Genesee Health Plan; Huntington Bank; Mass Transportation Authority (MTA); MLive; Randy Wise Automotive Team; United Way; University of Michigan-Flint and Wildfire Credit Union.
