In an effort to recognize that local businesses contribute to our great north shore quality of life, each year we seek nominations for our Business Appreciation Awards. This year’s winners were recognized at the special November luncheon where awards were presented in eight different categories.
Recipient of the All in the Family Award, Coscino's Pizza Italian Restaurant is a successful family-owned and operated business, established in 2004. Mike and Jamie Coscino, together with their son, Jeremy, and daughter, Danielle, cook all the food using secret family recipes.
The EEIC Award, an acronym for “Encourages Employee Involvement in the Community,” was awarded to Capital One where they strongly believe that the value of its corporate support is made even greater by the volunteer efforts of its associates. As of September, 210 northshore associates contributed a total of 2,925 hours of service to various community organizations this year.
Best Buy is a business that prides itself on setting its team up to win through “strengths-based positioning,” and is the recipient of our Employee Training Award. New Employee Training is a four-hour introduction to the Best Buy culture. It includes literature, procedures, video trainings, written exercises, store tour, and a Q&A session. The next two weeks consist of reading, hands-on exercises and practical applications with a coach or "Guru". The Gurus become mentors and that leads to not only product knowledge but leadership knowledge and promotions!
Charter Business is the winner of the High Tech Award. They are the commercial unit of Charter Communications better known for cable television service. Charter Business offers scalable, tailored and cost-effective communications solutions to business organizations, such as business-to-business telephone, Internet access and data networking, as well as cable TV and music entertainment services, all backed by Charter’s fiber-based network.
The Out of the Gate Running Award is given to a new business that has managed well and attained a successful first year. This year we had a tie between Liz’s Where Y’At Diner and Corks N Canvas.
Liz Munson is the owner of Liz’s Where Y’At Diner, which is a hit among locals, especially Jefferson Parish transplants. Her energetic staff goes above and beyond to make sure each customer receives unprecedented service, a comfortable atmosphere, and food that is delectable. Her vision to provide quality service to her customers has resulted in a popular breakfast and lunch spot on Hwy. 190 in Old Mandeville.
In November 2007, Cathy Deano and Renee Maloney opened a unique business, Corks N Canvas. Simply bring your favorite bottle of wine and paint a picture with instruction from a local artist. In a single two-three hour session, the instructor will show you step-by-step how to paint a beautiful work of art that you can take home.
Two companies known for outstanding customer service and friendliness, Three Rivers Services and Ron Lee Homes, win the Service with a Smile Award.
Calvin and Ally McMahon are the owners of Three Rivers Services and have built their HVAC business on the principle of making their customers smile. In fact, they guarantee a smile. Their company tagline is “Don’t Sweat! Your smile is our guarantee!”
The second winner for the Service with a Smile Award, Ron Lee Homes, has been building homes in St. Tammany Parish for over 18 years. With a team of quality local trade contractors and suppliers that are ready to meet any homeowner’s needs, they have created a seamless building process that will make the homebuilding experience enjoyable.
Fleur de Lis Event Center wins this year’s Site to See Award. It formally opened in 2009 after an extensive renovation to the old Causeway Movie Theatre. The existing structure was transformed through the influence of New Orleans architecture and culture. The interior portrays the best of New Orleans with a theme of “bringing the outside in.”
And finally, we added another award this year, which celebrates the contribution that is made to the look and feel of our community when an existing, vacant or historical structure is updated and renovated by a new tenant. The winners of the Everything Old is New Again Award are Albertson’s of Mandeville—located in an empty space in the Stirling Shopping Center; Bedroom Galleries by Cordell—located in the former Chrysler car dealership on the Hwy. 190 Service Road; The Lake House at B’s—formerly Bechac’s on the Lakefront in Mandeville; and the recently renovated Holiday Inn on Hwy. 190.
Congratulations to these businesses that help make St. Tammany a wonderful place to live and work.
To find out more about the St. Tammany West Chamber, visit www.sttammanychamber.org.