Irving residents have spoken and named 73 businesses “The Best in Irving” for outstanding customer service and quality products. The annual celebration, sponsored by the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce, was held at the Irving Convention Center on April 2. Television news anchor legend, Gloria Campos, served as celebrity emcee for the evening.
Approximately 30,000 votes were cast to determine the best businesses and events within the community. Categories ranged from “Best Affordable Dining” to “Best Place for Yogurt, and included many other categories for the home, business, and community events. A complete list of all winners by category may be found at www.irvingchamber.com/bestinirving.
“The Best In Irving” annual awards celebration also recognized those businesses and volunteers who help make Irving a great place to live, work, walk and play. Business and civic leaders receiving special recognition included David Russell, a retiring Verizon executive, who was presented the Mustang Legacy Award for his many years of volunteer service including serving as chairman of the North Texas Commission.
The Irving Music Factory was recognized as the Commercial Construction Project of the Year, and Robert Deptula with Transwestern was recognized as Commercial Broker of the Year for his years of promoting Las Colinas as the place for business.
Madison Fox, a graduating senior from Nimitz High School, was presented the Tommy Gonzalez YMCA Youth Leadership Award. Former Irving Mayor, Dan Matkin, was recognized with the Sister Cities Clayton Dobson Memorial Award, and Citi received the Irving Economic Development Partner 5-Star Partner of the Year Award.
In recognition of April being National Volunteer Month, David Griggs with Business Interiors was named Ambassador of the Year while Robert Adler with Jim Adler & Associates, was named Volunteer of the Year. Small Business of the Year, presented by Deputy Mayor Pro-Tem Tom Spink, went to Express Employment Professionals.
Outstanding Chamber Corporate Partner Award was won by both ACE Cash Express for their philanthropic support of the community, and Big State Fountain Grill was recognized for the investment made by two Irving families, Rick and Susan Fairless and Dan and Elaine Niemeier.
The Chamber also recognized its 6 Blue Ribbon Small Businesses, the most of any city in America for the seventh consecutive year, which includes: Cooksey Communications, Elemental Methods, Express Employment Professionals, Glory House Catering, Larsen Dye Associates Architects, and MAT Solutions. The Celebration concluded with the presentation of the Chairman’s Award to Mike McCall with NCH Corporation, and the announcement of the Chamber’s 5-Star Employee of the Year, Joe Chapa, State Representatives Rodney Anderson and Matt Rinaldi recognized each winner in a special reception following the announcement of each category.
