The Edmond Sun

Business

January 11, 2013

Chamber announces small business award finalists

EDMOND — The three finalists for the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce’s Bank of Oklahoma Small Business of the Year award have been announced. The finalists are, in no particular order, Optique Vision Center, Framin’ Gallery and Parkway Cleaners.

The three finalists will go through an interview process to decide the winner. The winner will be announced Jan. 25 at the Annual Awards Banquet at the University of Central Oklahoma campus.

The Small Business of the Year Award honors businesses that have made significant growth and outstanding contributions to the economy and the overall progress of the Edmond community. Applicants were judged on business growth and performance, business strategies and innovation, business challenges and competitiveness and community involvement and contribution.

There were a record number of more than 70 nominees for Bank of Oklahoma Small Business of the Year for 2012.



Optique Vision Center

The Optique Vision Center opened in 2009 and has been a member of the Chamber since opening. Their office is in the Spring Creek Plaza shopping center. This business values patient relationships and strives to improve quality of life and vision wellness through uncompromised service and state-of-the-art technology. Dr. Mike Grindstaff and his staff are a close-working team dedicated to serving the area. They pride themselves on being different by taking the usual and making it exceptional. Their expert optometrist and experienced staff will take the time to answer all of your questions, explain treatment options and provide the highest quality eye care treatments available.



Framin’ Gallery

Framin’ Gallery joined the Chamber and began as a do-it-yourself custom picture framing business in 1983 and slowly grew into much more. Winner of numerous awards for excellence in framing, the Framin’ Gallery has helped set the standard in custom picture framing, shadow boxes, conservation framing and more, in the Oklahoma City area. This family owned and operated business boasts more than 80 years combined experience. Their philosophy has been displayed on a sign since the day they opened, reading: “The inconvenience of poor quality lingers long after the thrill of a bargain is forgotten.” They have always been proud to provide that “wow” factor to their framing, which they often hear from customers.



Parkway Cleaners

Parkway Cleaners began as a fledgling two-man operation in 1959 and has been a member of the Chamber since 1972. During the past 53 years it has grown to become one of the largest single site cleaners in the world while remaining under the same family name. Beyond dry cleaning and laundry, Parkway now offers leather and suede cleaning, wedding gown preservation, household items cleaning and free pickup and delivery. They have dominated the Edmond market with constant growth acquiring an estimated 65 percent of the dry cleaning business. One of their favorite business mantras is, “If you’re not growing, you’re dying.”



FOR MORE information about the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce or to purchase tickets for the banquet, visit its website at

edmondchamber.com or call 341-2808.

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