Brandon Chamber honors five top businesses

Lori Bukaweski kicked back and chatted casually with her tablemates Oct. 22 at Crowne Plaza Tampa East while the winners were announced.

She snapped to attention, though, when someone - she's not sure who - gave her a shove and shouted over the din of applause, "They just called your name; get up there!"

Bukaweski, Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center's marketing director, high-tailed it to the stage to accept the prize, along with Chuck Burgess, the facility's executive director.

The center was one of five companies to win the 2009 Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year award.

"We didn't see it coming at all," Bukaweski said. "This means everything to us."

Four more businesses shared the winner's circle.

Cruise Planners/CruisesForYou, a travel and cruise agency owned by Sherry Leybovich of Lithia, won the award for home-based businesses.

Emma Hemness, a Brandon attorney specializing in the field of elder law, took top honors among minority and women-owned entities.

Manny Polizzi's electrical services company, Electric Today, and Love's Tire & Service Center, owned and operated in Valrico by Scott and Gay Lynn Love, won in divisions for 1 to 5 and 6 to 15 employees, respectively.

Tammy Bracewell, chamber president and CEO, said this year's victors - selected from a pool of more than 200 nominees - exhibited a commitment to high-quality customer service, good business practices and innovation - a criteria considered for the first time this year by the judges.

Mary Owens, awards committee chairwoman, said the winners were creative and made adjustments to their business during the recession.

"They showed success in spite of the economy," Owens said.

The winning owners and managers said they used cost-cutting strategies to stay on track. Several said they tweaked their product and service lines or stepped up networking efforts.

Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center, founded in 1963 as Brandon Swim and Tennis Club, a private entity owned by George and Shirley Greenwell, now operates as a community-based, not-for-profit organization. Bukaweski said the center reduced its payroll significantly by assigning salaried employees to fill in at the front desk and other positions previously staffed by hourly workers.

Leybovich increased the marketing budget for her home-based travel business to get her name out there.

Polizzi pared down his electric services company's cell phone plan and moved to a smaller office. Each week, his technicians check around town to find the cheapest gas prices to fuel their fleet.

A week after taking home the gold, Burgess and Bukaweski were still beaming.

"This brings us to a new level of credibility in the community," Bukaweski said. It's just outstanding."

Other finalists were: Morningstar Electric, Word O Mouth Referrals, Teachers' Helper, TechPlayzone, Ken Foster Inc., Signature Dentistry, Michael Sip, Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium, Rory Weiner PA; Chick-fil-A at Lake Brandon Village and Superior Residences of Brandon.