BY LISA BIANK FASIG
Cincinnati Enquirer
Time to review those local entrepreneurs that have really impressed, the awards are again coming to town.
The Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce is taking nominations for four annual small-business awards to be presented Sept. 18 at the Chamber Institute for Small Enterprise Luncheon.
The awards are:
- Small Business of the Year for overall excellence (companies with fewer than than 250 workers).
- Customer Focus Award for outstanding attention to customer needs.
- Emerging Entrepreneur Award recognizing a business' positioning to emerge as a top company.
- Innovation in Business Award for executing creative and innovative strategies for doing business (does not involve its products or services).
Applications for the Small Business of the Year award are due May 26. All others are due May 19. Call 579-3128.
Miami competition honors 5 U.S. students
The Miami University Enterprise Creation Competition has honored five U.S. business students for their concepts in sports, music and adult novelties in its first competition April 1-3 in Oxford.
Two University of Arizona students won first place with a business plan for a company providing management and marketing for private sports memorabilia collectors, named ColMEG Collectible Management and Entertainment Group. The two students will split the $7,500 prize money.
Second place went to two University of Houston students for their Internet broadcasting company dedicated to Lone Star music, Radio Free Texas. Their prize of $3,500 also will be split.
A Georgia State University student placed third for her Brown Bag Enterprises, a direct-sales adult novelty business that operates through home parties. She took home $1,000.
Each student also won a Hewlett-Packard computer system.
Pitney, Microsoft offer mail software
Pitney Bowes Inc. and Microsoft have jointly introduced an Internet-based mailing service for small businesses.
DirectNet, released late in March, is featured in version 2.0 of Microsoft's Office 97 Small Business Edition. It is part of Direct Mail Manager, a program included in the new business edition.
Businesses also can get DirectNet software by calling (800) 461-2853 or downloading it from Pitney Bowes' Web site at www.pb.com
Business bookshelf
How to Succeed in Business Without Being White, by Earl Graves (HarperBusiness; $14 paperback). The pocket-sized version of the book that strives to level the corporate playing field.
