Oak Ridge Today

Chamber’s Small Business of the Month: Bob’s Washboard Laundromat

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Bob’s Washboard Laundromat, the only wash and fold service in Anderson County, has been named the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for February 2024. (Submitted photo)

Bob’s Washboard Laundromat, the only wash and fold service in Anderson County, has been named the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for February 2024, a press release said.

“This award recognizes Bob’s Washboard Laundromat’s unique business concept, their commitment to providing superior service to their clients, as well as their contributions to the Oak Ridge community,” the press release said.

Bob’s Washboard Laundromat was founded in October 2010 by Robert Burseth. In the summer of 2023, he remodeled and relocated the business to 113 Robertsville Road in Oak Ridge, which now includes a wash and fold service inside. There are traditional self-serve washers and dryers available, but unlike most, their laundromat has attendants available to assist patrons, the press release said. [Read more…]

Chamber’s small business of month: Yes! Go Travel

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Yes! Go Travel, a company that specializes in motorcoach and cruise travel planning for large groups, has been named the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for January 2024. (Submitted photo)

Yes! Go Travel, a company that specializes in motorcoach and cruise travel planning for large groups, has been named the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for January 2024.

“With a leap of faith and love for travel, Suzie Housley opened Yes! Go Travel in August 2022,” a press release said. “They offer group travel opportunities, including one-day and multiple-day trips in the United States and international locations. Additionally, the company can assist in booking affordable motorcoach and cruise line transportation. The owner has even recently joined the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) to become further educated for her clients, reach new vendors, and ultimately expand her business.”

The press release said Housley has 14 years of travel industry experience as a travel director of a now-disbanded program. [Read more…]

Christmas Parade is Saturday evening

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Santa Claus participated in a previous Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade. (File photo credit: Ray Smith.)

The Oak Ridge Christmas Parade is this evening, Saturday, December 9. It is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

The parade is organized by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. The theme of this year’s parade is “Sleigh Ride.”

As in the past, the parade route is down Lafayette Drive to Oak Ridge Turnpike, and the parade will end at Oak Ridge High School.

[Read more…]

Trapuzzano receives Eugene L. Joyce Achievement Award

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Tim Trapuzzano

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce presented Tim Trapuzzano with the Eugene L. Joyce Lifetime Achievement Award at its annual awards gala, An ExtraORdinary Evening, in late January.

Trapuzzano is president and chief executive officer of Omega Technical Services in Oak Ridge, located at 118 Mitchell Road in Oak Ridge.

The Eugene L. Joyce Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a nominee who has truly distinguished himself or herself and embodies the essential values of volunteerism, community service, and dedication to the economic vitality of the community, a press release said. [Read more…]

Chamber’s Christmas Parade is Saturday, Dec. 10

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A photo from a previous Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade. (File photo by Eli Welton)

The annual Christmas Parade in Oak Ridge will be Saturday, December 10.

It’s organized by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by The Cowperwood Company.

This year’s theme is “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”

More than 80 floats are expected to participate in the parade, which is scheduled from 6 p.m. to roughly 8 p.m. The parade route will include Lafayette Road, then Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Willow Ridge Garden Center named small business of month

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The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce recently presented Willow Ridge Garden Center with its Small Business of the Month designation for February 2022. Pictured are Christine Michaels, Greg Steele, Kelley O’Dell, Scott Russell, Chris Johnson, April Fugate, Lora Barker, Florenda Howard, and Norm Nelson. (Submitted photo)

 

Willow Ridge Garden Center has been named the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for February 2022.

The award is sponsored by Enrichment Federal Credit Union.

Willow Ridge Garden Center is located at 97 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“When the weather is bleak, wet, dreary, and cold, it may not seem like the time to visit Willow Ridge Garden Center,” a press release said. “But, according to garden center retail manager Greg Steele—or ‘Greg the Friendly Garden Guy’ to followers of the Willow Ridge Facebook page—it’s always planting season. ‘We are here year round and you can plant year round. There is not a time when you can not plant, so you can always get your hands dirty—it’s good for you!'” [Read more…]

Dodson, Wilson, others to be honored by Oak Ridge Chamber

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The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce will honor area business leaders and businesses during an awards dinner in January.

It’s the second annual An ExtraORdinary Evening Installation and Awards Dinner. It’s scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Friday, January 7, at the Oak Ridge Children’s Museum. The cocktail hour will begin at 6 p.m.

Jim Dodson and David Wilson will be presented with the Chamber’s most prestigious awards at the event, a press release said.

Dodson will be the recipient of the Eugene L. Joyce Lifetime Achievement Award, the press release said. [Read more…]

Promo Joe by Jessica named Small Business of Month

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Promo Joe by Jessica was named the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for December. Craig Peters of Enrichment Federal Credit Union, sponsor of the monthly award, is pictured with Jessica Diveto, owner of Promo Joe by Jessica. (Submitted photo)

 

Promo Joe by Jessica was named the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for December.

The monthly award is sponsored by Enrichment Federal Credit Union.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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Small business of month: Acato Information Management

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Acato Information Management, located at 173 Mitchell Road, is the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for November 2021. (Submitted photo)

 

Acato Information Management, located at 173 Mitchell Road, is the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for November 2021, a press release said. The award is sponsored by Enrichment Federal Credit Union.

“Service, integrity, and joy—those are the core values of Acato Information Management,” the press release said. “Owner Cathy Toth says those values drive everything they do.”

Launched in 2010, Acato is a software company focused on software quality. The company provides software testing for clients and government contractors.

“Traditional software testing revolves around executing tasks and resolving defects,” Toth said. “The value we bring is figuring out how well you know if you got what you wanted and then how you will confirm that you got what you wanted. It’s that analysis and then building tests to do that is really where we bring more value to the client.” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Chamber’s Christmas Parade is Saturday, Dec. 11

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Santa plans to participate in the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas Parade. This year’s traditional parade will be held on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, beginning at 6 p.m. (Photo credit: Ray Smith.)

 

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce will have its annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 11.

This year’s theme is “The 12 Days of Christmas.”

The sponsor of this year’s parade is The Cowperwood Company.

There is no cost to participate.

The Chamber will be accepting parade entries online through Tuesday, December 7. You can register by visiting the Chamber’s website: www.oakridgechamber.org. [Read more…]

Spa One Seventy has ribbon-cutting

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The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Spa One Seventy on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Spa One Seventy on Tuesday, October 26.

Spa One Seventy is located at 170 West Tennessee Avenue, Suite 200.

Oak Ridge Chamber names Life Safety Inspections small business of month

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Life Safety Inspections (LSI), located at 313 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Suite 107 A, is the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for October 2021. The award is sponsored by Enrichment Federal Credit Union. (Submitted photo)

 

Submitted

Life Safety Inspections is the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for October 2021. The award is sponsored by Enrichment Federal Credit Union.

Ask owner Chip Dooley what led him to start LSI and he’ll tell you it came to him in a dream. 13 years ago, he found himself unhappy in his job – he had even gone so far as to write a letter of resignation, but just wasn’t quite ready to submit it. He tucked it away under his desk calendar and went home. That night, he dreamed about fire extinguishers and exit signs. He began researching fire extinguisher companies in the area and could only find six. After working on a business plan, he decided the market could handle another one.

According to Chip, “The hardest thing was to bring it to my wife and say, ‘Hey! I’m quitting my job, and we’re gonna be broke.’ She didn’t bat an eye. She said, ‘That’s fine’ and I was just amazed. She’s been my champion and cheerleader ever since.” [Read more…]