Father knows best, but it's a good idea to listen to your daughter.

        Just ask Tony Cuilwik, president of CIMx LLC, a growing software company in Clermont County's Miami Township.

        Wednesday, Mr. Cuilwik's 26-person company was named Small Business of the Year at the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce's 29th small-business luncheon at the Albert B. Sabin Convention Center.

        Mr. Cuilwik entered the competition, which uses many of the same criteria as the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, at the urging of his daughter, Kristin. She is operations manager for the 5-year-old company, which develops manufacturing software applications.

        “It was a very big surprise.” Mr. Cuilwik said. In a first, the chamber announced the winner live from among 19 nominees.

        “I was mainly interested in the business analysis that comes with the judging,” Ms. Cuilwik said of why she urged her father to enter. The six other finalists were: DigitalBANG LLC; Johnson Investment Counsel Inc.; Queen City Steel Treating; Synchrony Communications Inc.; TechSolve, and Skilled Care Pharmacy.

        CIMx, which had revenues of $3 million last year, won the chamber's emerging entrepreneur award two years ago.

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