Main photo: Toby Stansell, keynote speaker for The Third Annual Excellence in Entrepreneurship Small Business Awards. Gallery Image: Tim Justice, keynote speaker for the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Small Business Seminar.

The Greenville Chamber and CommunityWorks have partnered to host two events during National Small Business Week to recognize small businesses, as well as to equip small business owners and entrepreneurs with the tools and resources to grow their business.

The Third Annual Excellence in Entrepreneurship Small Business Awards will be held on Tuesday, May 1, 2018. The awards recognize entrepreneurs and small business owners for their accomplishments in developing businesses that make our region unique and vibrant.

Awards presented will include the following:

• Entrepreneurial Success Award
• Eugenia Duke Woman-Owned Business of the Year
• Minority-Owned Microbusiness of the Year
• People’s Choice Award
• Small Business Champion of the Year
• Young Entrepreneur of the Year

A keynote address will be provided by Toby Stansell, chief operating officer of THInc.IT. The event will be held at Cascadesat Verdae from 5:30-7:30pm.

“CommunityWorks has a strong commitment to micro- and small businesses in our community and started the Excellence in Entrepreneurship awards to recognize the important impact of small businesses on our local economy. We are thrilled to partner with the Chamber to not only grow this event but to create a celebration of Small Business Week that will be used as a shining example for celebrations across the nation, “said Deborah McKetty, president/CEO of CommunityWorks.

On Thursday, May 3, 2018, CommunityWorks and the Greenville Chamber will host the inaugural Excellence in Entrepreneurship Small Business Seminar. The half-day seminar will provide educational opportunities and guidance to local entrepreneurs and small business owners. Attendees will hear from keynote speaker Tim Justice, founder of Rescom Construction, as well as attend workshops on topics such as marketing, accounting, and local resources. The event will be held at Greenville Technical College from 8:00am-1:00pm.

“The Greenville Chamber is honored to work alongside CommunityWorks and is thrilled to expand the reach of this initiative by providing learning opportunities that will elevate our business community,” said Greenville Chamber President/CEO Carlos Phillips. “Partnerships and initiatives like Excellence in Entrepreneurship are essential to accomplishing the Chamber’s vision of a globally competitive Upstate economy where businesses succeed and people prosper.”