2012 Mayor’s Small Business Awards Announced

John B. Guard, III & Susan Guard (The Pet Shop) receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Courtesy of County of Maui.

By Sonia Isotov

Last night, Mayor Alan Arakawa in conjunction with the Maui Chamber of Commerce presented the 2012 Mayor’s Small Business Awards at the King Kamehameha Golf Club Waikapu Ballroom.

“Small business is Maui County’s most important economic engine, and we should never forget the sacrifices that business owners make every day to keep their businesses operating,” said Mayor Arakawa.

“They take on risk, work long hours, and put their personal assets on the line while providing jobs, services and goods to our community. We are fortunate to have such a strong small business community in Maui County and are privileged to honor them.”

Les Tomita & Mariah Brown (Da Kitchen) accept the Exceptional Small Business (26-50 employees). Courtesy of County of Maui.

The winners in each category are as follows:

• Young Small Business Person of the Year – Josh Jerman (The Wailea Group, LLC)
• Exceptional Small Business (10 or fewer employees) – Joe Rossi (Maui Babe, Inc.)
• Exceptional Small Business (11-25 employees) – Grant Schule & Emanuela Vinciguera (Kumu Farms)
• Exceptional Small Business (26-50 employees) – Les Tomita & Mariah Brown (Da Kitchen)
• Outstanding Non-Profit Business – The Maui Food Bank
• Lifetime Achievement Award – John B. Guard, III & Susan Guard (The Pet Shop, Inc.)

Grant Schule & Emanuela Vinciguera (Kumu Farms) accepted the Exceptional Small Business Award (11-25 employees). Courtesy of County of Maui.

Co-sponsors of the event are the Maui Chamber of Commerce, Tanaka Engineers, Inc., Central Pacific Bank, First Hawaiian Bank, Araki-Regan & Associates, Muneyiko & Hiraga, SCORE, and VIP Food Service.

Josh Jerman (The Wailea Group, LLC) accepts the Young Small Business Person of the Year Award. Courtesy of County of Maui.

Ricard Yust (Maui Food Bank) accepted the award for Outstanding Non-Profit Business Award. Courtesy of County of Maui.

Joe Rossi (Maui Babe, Inc.) accepted the Exceptional Small Business Award (10 or fewer employees). Courtesy of County of Maui.