FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BUSINESSES RECOGNIZED FOR COMITTMENT TO LOCAL ECONOMY AT LOCAL MOTION AWARDS
First-Ever Local First LocalMotion Awards Winners Announced.
Grand Rapids, MI – February 1, 2011. While much of the economic reporting over the last several months has focused on business reduction; or, at best slow growth, the first day of February sees the announcement of the first-ever Local First LocalMotion Award Winners. LocalMotion Award nominations focused on businesses and individuals whose commitment to a sustainable, local economy is moving West Michigan forward; an optimistic view on what has become a pessimistic subject – Michigan’s Economy.
Members and non-members alike were asked by the nonprofit local business advocacy organization, Local First, to nominate individuals and businesses that were positively affecting the West Michigan economic landscape. In total, forty businesses and individuals were nominated in the four categories: Change Agent, Local Hero, Triple Bottom Line, and Mover & Shaker. Business Strategy, Inc. of Grand Rapids was included as a nominee in the category, “Change Agents.”
Organizations throughout Michigan are feeling the effects of the difficult economic climate, but several local companies are rising above the tide, including Business Strategy. Business Strategy, Inc. has not only been surviving this rough season, but has seen continued significant growth. As suggested by the Change Agent nomination, Business Strategy saw success and significant growth in 2010, in the fourth quarter alone Business Strategy hired thirteen locally-based positions. However, even with all of the success in business, Business Strategy was bested for the award by Atomic Object.
For over two decades, Business Strategy has been collaborating with other businesses to improve and streamline operations, and today Business Strategy congratulates Atomic Object as the Local First LocalMotion Change Agent winner.
Other winners included Steve Faber as Local Hero, Wealthy Theatre as Mover and Shaker, Curtis Cleaners was awarded in the category of Triple Bottom Line (Established), while MadCap Coffee Company was given the nod as Triple Bottom Line (New) winner. In addition, Guy Bazzani was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award and honored with an annual award to be given in his honor, and the first winner of that Guy Bazzani Local Legacy Award was the Image Shoppe.
“The Local First LocalMotion Awards are an important part of our continuing effort to recognize and promote best practices in growing the West Michigan economy,” said Elissa Hillary, Executive Director at Local First. “We’re excited to honor those organizations and individuals whose embodiment of the Local First values of sustainability, support and collaboration is moving our communities forward.”
“While we embrace the idea of being a Change Agent in the community, for many of our associates, Business Strategy is about consistency and reliability. Business Strategy feels like family,” says Dan Geelhoed, President & COO, “we have so many associates that have been here for multiple years and each one points to the business environment and their fellow associates as the main reasons they work here. We appreciate being nominated and congratulate those businesses who won.”
Business Strategy was pleased to be acknowledged as a LocalMotion Award nominee. Charlie Fayon, CEO, says, “We appreciated being recognized in this inaugural year; what makes this award more meaningful is the surveys completed by the public are a basis for this award. We are humbled to be considered ‘Change Agents,’ and, although we did not win, I can honestly say our entire management team is dedicated to improving and enhancing each and every associate’s personal and professional status; as well as supporting the community where we live and work. Business Strategy is honored to have been nominated and pleased take this opportunity to recognize the winning organizations and their commitment to the local economy.”
Winners of the Local First LocalMotion Awards were announced and recognized at the Local First Annual Meeting at the Goei Center on February 1, 2011.
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Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Business Strategy, Inc. employs more than 135 people and focuses on the Procure-to-Pay cycle (P2P) and improving process automation. Business Strategy has seen continued growth, even in these tough economic times, and has hired nearly 15 new associates in the fourth quarter of 2010. Business Strategy builds strategic partnerships with other organizations to focus on P2P processes and vendor contract compliance; as well as implementing controls and process automation to streamline systems and improve the organization’s bottom line. Visit them online at www.businessstrategy.com
For more information about Business Strategy, or to schedule an interview with a Business Strategy Managing Partner, please call Chris Koens at 616-257-6314 or e-mail Chris at ckoens@businessstrategy.com
For further information about the Local First LocalMotion Awards, visit www.localfirst.com
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