MCE officials announced that seventeen applicants from four Lower Shore counties in Maryland have been nominated for the 2015 Palmer Gillis Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Applicants came from Dorchester, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester Counties.
Dorchester County:
Lisa Brooks – Clayton’s Pharmacy
Tony Christian – Resource Asset Management Solutions (RAMS)
Heidi Griebel – Sunnyside
Danielle VanRiel – Mirror Mirror
Talbot County:
Carolyn Nicole Dull/Katherine Lill – Tidewater Cleaning Service, LLC
Susan Schauer John – SpiderWeb Connections
Wicomico County:
Christopher Eccleston – Delmarva Veteran Builders
Zina Gallo – Enza’s an Organic Salon
Chuck Northam – Safety Resources, LLC
Keith Paul Fisher – Fisher Architecture, LLC
John Churchman/Navid Mazloom – Shore Cycles of Salisbury
Blair Carey – The Brick Room
Walter Moore – APPI Energy
Worcester County:
Carmella Solito – Twisters, Inc
Paul Starkey/Vincent Gisriel III – Sprout Group, LLC/At The Beach Enterprises, Inc.
George Tunis III – Hardwire, LLC
Joni Waldych – Innovative Benefit Solutions, LLC
Nominees must own a business in good standing in one of five Lower Shore counties, have 100 or less employees, run a for-profit business and have been in business for at least two years. Each nominee will be judged on a series of criteria which include: business formation, business growth, leadership skills, job creation, business philosophy and community involvement.
The goal of the award has been to raise awareness about entrepreneurship and recognize the risk takers. Previous winners have included Peter Roskovich, owner of the successful Adam’s Ribs restaurants and Black Diamond Catering in Fruitland, Ryan Miller, owner of The Deli, Last Call Liquors, and other successful businesses in Wicomico County, and Dr. Kerry Palakanis, owner of the Crisfield Clinic.
This is the fourth year of the prestigious award named after Palmer Gillis, founder of local, general contracting firm, Gillis Gilkerson, which has been responsible for developing properties on the Lower Shore for over 30 years. Gillis is a model entrepreneur with his notable business success and involvement in community organizations such as the Greater Salisbury Committee, Salisbury University Foundation, Salisbury Wicomico Economic Development and Salisbury Downtown Association.
The award has been growing in popularity each year with an increasing amount of applicants. Three finalists will be chosen and the winner, along with the two runner-ups will be revealed at the Palmer Gillis Entrepreneur of the Year Award Banquet. The banquet will be held on November 5, 2015 at Salisbury University. The winner will be awarded a trophy, cash prize and the honor of being recognized as the Entrepreneur of the Year.
Tickets are still available for the MCE Palmer Gillis Entrepreneur of the Year Award Banquet. To buy tickets visit www.MarylandCapital.org or call (410) 546-1900.
