Chamber Announces Finalists for the Sixth Annual Greater Austin Business Awards
For information contact: Nan Matthews, Director of Public Relations
512.322.5623 | nmatthews@austinchamber.com
August 19, 2006 – Do you know a business that could be a winner? The Greater Austin Chamber announces the finalists for the Sixth Annual Greater Austin Business Awards event that will be held Wednesday, August 30 from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Hilton Austin, 500 East Fourth Street.
Created in 2001, the Greater Austin Business Awards continues to set the standard for business excellence in the Greater Austin area. In the past, the Awards recognized only Chamber members. This year marks the first time that the Chamber will recognize companies across the entire Greater Austin business community including businesses in Georgetown, Leander, San Marcos, Buda and all other cities within the Central Texas region.
New additions to the Business Awards include an Environmental Award and a VIP reception which will be sponsored by Frost Bank. Finalists, judges and distinguished guests will honor those who make the awards possible. This year’s theme, “Summer in the City,” will feature local artists and music celebrating Austin at its finest.
The finalists have been selected, bringing these companies one step closer to winning. The awards will be given to small, medium, large and not-for-profit businesses in five categories: Community Relations, Innovation, Customer Service, Education and Environment. Finalists for the Freescale Non-Profit Award have also been selected.
And the finalists are:
Small Business:
Innovation - Biophysical Corporation; M3 Design, Inc; Watershed 5 Studios
Customer Service - Community TechKnowledge; Personal Wine by Pervino, Inc.; Red Velvet Events, Inc.
Education - Locke, Liddell & Sapp; Risas Y Sonrisas Spanish for Kids; Sprysoft Corporation
Community Relations - $usan $peaks; austinwoman Magazine; O’Connell Robertson & Associates
Environment - Habitat Suites Hotel; The Natural Gardner
Medium Business:
Innovation - ABC Pest & Lawn Services; Motion Computing, Inc.; Netspend Corporation
Customer Service - David Weekley Homes; Higginbotham & Associates; Truluck’s Seafood, Steak and Crab House
Education - University of Phoenix; Washington Mutual Bank
Community Relations - Fox 7; Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody; KXAN
Large Business:
Innovation - Silicon Laboratories, Inc.; Time Warner Cable; Yellow Cab
Customer Service - Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Hoover’s, Inc.; Texas Gas Service
Education - Bracewell & Giuliani; Wells Fargo
Community Relations - Applied Materials, Inc.; Temple-Inland, Inc.; Time Warner Cable
Environment - DPR Construction, Inc.; IBM Corporation; Texas Disposal Systems
Not-for-Profit:
Innovation - Capital IDEA;, City of Austin- Solid Waste Services; Rawson-Saunders School
Customer Service - Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority; TG; University Co-Operative Society
Education - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas; Housing Authority of the City of Austin; Star of Texas Fair & Rodeo
Community Relations - Assistance League of Austin; Impact Austin; Meals on Wheels and More
Freescale Non-Profit Award:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas
Meals on Wheels and More
Town Lake Trail Foundation
The Chamber thanks Media Sponsor: Austin American-Statesman. Title Sponsors: Freescale Semiconductor, Jackson Walker LLP and Wells Fargo. Sustaining Sponsors: Austin Energy, H-E-B and Wachovia, N.A. Contributing Sponsors: Colliers Oxford Commercial and Gameplan Marketing & Events. Partner Sponsors: Temple-Inland, Inc. and Time Warner Business Class. Thanks to Frost Bank for sponsoring the VIP reception.
| Buy your tickets now for the Make-A-Wish: A Night of Island Wishes at Roy’s. Limited seats. |
| Red Velvet Events was just announced as a 2008 Esprit Finalist in the category of Most Creative Solution |
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| Texas Star Awards 2007 Winner |
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| Red Velvet Events is taking RFPs for Spring & Summer 2009 conferences and events. |
"When our marketing team works with the RVE team, we know we have a sure formula for success. The RVE team is results-driven and extremely detail-oriented, just like Lombardi. Every time we work with them, we feel like all their energy is directed at our event."
Alan Godfrey, Executive Vice President, Marketing & Business Development Lombardi Software, Inc.
"When I work with the Red Velvet Events team, I know I’m going to get a memorable event for Chinatown Center and for the Asian-American community in Austin. We just produced the largest Chinese New Year celebration ever in Austin, and the RVE team made it happen."
Alex Tan, CEO, Tan International Group & Chinatown Center
"Can’t ask for much more when it comes to working with an event management company – Cindy and her team are extremely organized and they helped us turn around our event in a short time frame and most importantly, they handled all of our last minute changes! We’re a rapidly growing firm, and we need someone that can keep up with our pace."
Mickey Millsap, Vice President, uShip, Inc.
"Hiring Cindy and RVE to plan our wedding was the smartest decision we made during our engagement. A consummate professional, Cindy was available around the clock to answer our questions promptly and politely. Her knowledge of weddings and event planning put us at ease at every step in the planning process and helped us blend our families’ traditions, our personal tastes, and the needs of our guests into our big day. The day we got married, RVE took care of the “chores” while we focused on enjoying ourselves with our family and friends. Our wedding day was more fun, joyous, musical, and touching than we anticipated.
Not only was working with RVE a total blast, it gave us the wedding of our dreams. RVE receives our highest recommendation, and we look forward to working with Cindy and RVE again."
Ella & Francisco
"Cindy’s services were invaluable in every aspect of the planning and execution of our event. She created the event’s theme and kept us on task. She was extremely organized and communicative throughout the planning process. Cindy was respectful of our limited budget as a non-profit organization and creatively stretched every dollar by negotiating great deals with vendors.
Knowing that the event details were in Cindy’s extremely capable hands allowed me to enjoy our fundraiser and effectively do my job as Development Director by greeting guests and raising money!"
Megan Heredia, San Juan Diego Catholic High School, Development Director
"Working with Red Velvet Events was a pleasure. They handled all the logistics to ensure a successful Grand Opening and continued to provide support on the following weekends where traffic flow is the generally the heaviest. I was especially impressed with Cindy’s ability to think thoroughly on all the details and make sure we had a plan for everything."
Nicole Miller, CarMax, Grand Openings Manager
"What we envisioned as our dream wedding, Red Velvet Events helped made come true. From the walk down the aisle, to our first glimpse into the reception, it was a moment that took our breath away.
We are thankful for Red Velvet Events and for what it stands for – excellence. Cindy accommodated to our needs, was patient and professional, delivered quality work, and was a pleasure to work with. She referred us to extraordinary vendors and incorporated tradition into our wedding. We can truly say that our wedding is a day we will always remember. Thank you Red Velvet Events!"
Aloisy & Van
"Red Velvet Events was able to help me organize transportation, gift bags, dinner reception and the overall schedule for a team competition with only two weeks of notice. Their flexibility, organization and constant communication made me feel very secure about the success of the event. Red Velvet Events was a great choice for an event planner, and I look forward to working with them again to plan our competition next year."
Lauren Davis Director, Liemandt Foundation
"Red Velvet Events performed in a most professional manner and carried off a first time event very smoothly."
Representative Martha Wong, Houston, district 134
"Since I've known Cindy, she has never ceased to amaze me with her level of creativity, energy and eagerness to help. I could always depend on Cindy to exceed my expectations. Having known and worked with her at Trilogy, I know she will always put her customers' needs before her own."
Jeanne McNeil, Trilogy Software Inc., President of Trilogy Employee Foundation
"Having Cindy plan my husband's 30th birthday party was a life-saver for me. I just had a baby and did not have the time or energy to put this together. Cindy took care of everything - from invites and favors to scoping out potential venues and decorating the cake! She knew exactly the kind of party I wanted and was able to do it well under my budget. Cindy's enthusiasm, energy and her dedication to perfection made the night a huge success. I definitely plan on having Cindy take care of all my future parties."
Ann Kim
"My dear friend Shelley and I decided to throw a BIG party for our 40th and 30th birthdays. This was going to be, in our words, THE party of the year! We were introduced to Cindy, who willingly took on the project of planning a birthday bash in Houston, Texas. Shelley and I, both very busy with work, were extremely grateful at how flexible and accommodating Cindy was through the whole planning process.
The night of the event, Cindy managed the entire party, making sure everything was taken care of to every last detail. She even took the time to bring her digital camera and capture candid photos of the event. Shelley and I were able to enjoy our evening and our guests without a worry in the world. Cindy handled everything like an industry expert and thanks to her services, the party was a great success..."
Melissa Arriaga
"Cindy, our wedding reception was amazing! Your organization shined through -- from the name place cards to the elegant menus you personally designed, to making sure the whole evening went just the way we wanted. We will definitely refer you to our other friends who are getting married."
Ardis Peterson
© 2008 Red Velvet Events Inc., a member of ISES and MPI.