By Jenny Callison
Enquirer contributor

Jancoa Janitorial Services cleaned up at Wednesday's 2003 Small Business Awards Luncheon, earning top honors as the 2003 Small Business of the Year.

The event, presented by the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, also recognized 10 businesses for their progress toward management excellence. Companies were evaluated on the basis of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality criteria and cited at "emerging excellence," "commitment to excellence" and "achievement of excellence" levels.

In the "emerging" category were Advanced Testing Laboratory Inc., Blue Ash; The Asset Advisory Group, Glendale; Premier Network Solutions, Madisonville; Spectrum Marketing Support, Reading; and Willow Creative Group, Over-The-Rhine.

Not-for-profit Child Focus, Inc. of Mount Carmel was the only "commitment to excellence" winner.

Cited at the top level of excellence in management and results were Ferguson Metals Inc., Hamilton; Jancoa, Norwood; Midwest Manufacturing Solutions, downtown; and Monarch Construction Co., Norwood.

Jancoa, like many of the other honorees, has spent several years in this chamber-sponsored assessment program, which helps companies identify strengths and weaknesses.

E-mail jcallison@zoomtown.com