Tim Lautermilch, president of Eagle Specialty Vehicles, receives an Emerging Small Business Award at the annual Clermont Chamber of Commerce meeting Feb. 10. From left are Arlene Herman of LifePoint Solutions, State Rep. Joe Uecker, Congresswoman Jean Schmidt, Lautermilch, John Melvin, director of the Small Business Development Center, State Rep. Danny Bubp and Commissioner Bob Proud.

Tim Lautermilch, president of Eagle Specialty Vehicles, receives an Emerging Small Business Award at the annual Clermont Chamber of Commerce meeting Feb. 10. From left are Arlene Herman of LifePoint Solutions, State Rep. Joe Uecker, Congresswoman Jean Schmidt, Lautermilch, John Melvin, director of the Small Business Development Center, State Rep. Danny Bubp and Commissioner Bob Proud.
The Clermont County Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting Feb. 10 and honored local businesses that earned a small business practice award in 2011.

Business who were honored at the ceremony included Global Scrap Management, Eagle Specialty Vehicles, The Lyon Group, Sporty’s, CTTS and General Data Co.

Awards were given in three different categories and broken down by smaller business with less than 50 employees and businesses with more than 50 employees.

“It’s the business that makes Ohio go,” State Representative Danny Bubp said before award winners were announced. “We would like to congratulate you and thank you for being a role model in your community.”

Several state and county officials as well as Matthew Van Sant, president and CEO of the chamber, John Melvin, director of the Small Business Development Center and former award winners helped give the awards to this years recipients.

Global Scrap Management, an aluminum recycling company located in Milford, with their new division, Altimet, now in Batavia Township, took home the Emerging Small Business Award for a business with less than 50 employees. The award recognizes a business that is experiencing success and looking ahead to future expansion.

“This company is not even 10 years old,” Congresswoman Jean Schmidt said. “Can you imagine what they are going to be doing in the future?”

Eagle Specialty Vehicles, an Amelia company that manufactures funeral coaches, limousines and other specialty vehicles, received the Emerging Small Business Award for a company with more than 50 employees.

The company is currently the largest funeral vehicle manufacturer in the United States, and is looking to continue their success in the county.

The Lyon Group earned the Customer Focus Award for a business with less than 50 employees. The Union Township company specializes in helping business owners and families with financial planning and management was recognized as a business that has demonstrated a commitment to customers by showing attention to detail and follow-up.

The Customer Focus award for a business with more than 50 employees went to Sporty’s, the pilot shop and academy located at the Clermont County Airport.

Sporty’s Pilot Shop was launched in 1961 and they grew out of their original location at Lunken Airport and moved to Clermont County. Hal Shevers founded Sporty’s Academy in 1987 and Sporty’s Foundation was launched in 2007.

And while Sporty’s continues to grow, the company was honored for their continued focus on customer service.

Cincinnati Terminal Training and Services received the Innovative Business Practices Award for a company with less than 50 employees.

The company which has a location in Eastgate, provides computer training, web application development, multimedia production and data management services. They earned the award for their innovative practices.

General Data Co., located in Union Township, earned the Innovative Business Practices Award for a Business with more than 50 employees.

The company offers a variety of services to customers including labeling, data collection, equipment services, fixed asset management and more. The company also sells products that help businesses accomplish these tasks.

The Small Business Development Center Advisory Council selected businesses to receive the awards and each business received a plaque for their accomplishments.

“To all of those award winners, thank you for making Clermont County a better place,” Commissioner Bob Proud said during the ceremony. “We are proud of you.”