Click this link to view and/or download the Award Application Packet for 2008.

http://www.cornerstonechamber.com/pdfs/AwardPacket2008rev.pdf

A relatively new award in its second year now is the Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce Green Business Award.  Click this link for the criteria and application:

http://www.cornerstonechamber.com/pdfs/GreenBusinessAwardSheetfor2008.pdf

Brand new in the 2008 Award lineup is the new Microenterprise Award.  The criteria and application form can be found by clicking here:

http://www.cornerstonechamber.com/pdfs/MicroenterpriseAwardCriteria.pdf

Every fall, Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce dispatches a multi-part application to all members of the organization seeking nominations for our Annual Business Awards which are presented in February at our Combined Annual Reception and Annual Meeting.

Inasmuch as nobody knows a business like the people who own and operate the business, we strongly encourage self-nominations, especially in the category of our Silver, Gold and Platinum Stake Awards. Those awards call for simple straight forward criteria regarding sales & revenues, physical expansion, and a growing workforce.

Our Entrepreneur of the Year Awards are divided into several categories including Commercial and Industrial, and require a bit more of a story-line and background into the history of the nominee and his or her company. Criteria are detailed in the guidelines mailed to members each fall, and are reasonably self-explanatory. Self-nomination is allowed in these categories as well, although we seek assistance from bankers, brokers, and real estate people in working up the applications.

The Merlin Hanson Exemplary Business Leader Award is a truly unique award in that there isn't necessarily a winner every year. The award is reserved for those very special people who have skills and talents that resemble the skillsets that Mr. Hanson himself has pressed into action over the years.

There are several other awards that we produce annually including the Excellence in Customer Service Award as determined by our Ambassador Corps. This award does not permit self-nomination, and is highly sought after by any business working diligently to be the best in their field.

The David R. Whitwam Award is reserved for exceptional stories of pride, passion and performance in the world of business and community. It too sometimes goes unclaimed if there are no worthy nominees up for consideration.

The Michigan's Great Southwest Award is our effort to recognize those companies who are drawing the national and international spotlight onto our region by virtue of the excellent ways in which they conduct their own business and earn recognition from outside of the community.

Our Marie Franz Partner of the Year Award is presented each year on behalf of the staff of Cornerstone Alliance and Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce to the partner or partners who have helped us to advance inter-governmental cooperation, or broad collaboration among non-profit entities to enhance the community.

We also award Special Acknowledgement to our Ambassador of the Year, our SCORE Volunteer of the Year, and our Women's Business Center Advocate of the Year each year.

In our world...you can never recognize too many great people, and that is why we do the work to produce our annual Champions of Commerce salute under the auspices of the Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce.

If you would like more information on our awards process, feel free to contact Pat Moody at 269-757-0216.