Oak Ridge Today

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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…]

Willow Ridge Garden Center named small business of month

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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…]

Promo Joe by Jessica named Small Business of Month

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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.

Most news stories on Oak Ridge Today are free, brought to you by Oak Ridge Today with help from our advertisers, contributors, and subscribers. This is a free story. Thank you to our advertisers, contributors, and subscribers. You can see what we cover here.

Do you appreciate this story or our work in general? If so, please consider a monthly subscription to Oak Ridge Today. See our Subscribe page here. Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today!

Alternatively, you can donate to support our work here. Thank you for your support!

Copyright 2021 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Small business of month: Acato Information Management

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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 names Life Safety Inspections small business of month

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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…]

Oak Ridge Pharmacy named small business of month

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Pictured above are Saad Aqqad, Allyson Neal, Brittany Moser, and Lindsey Rowland of Oak Ridge Pharmacy.

 

Oak Ridge Pharmacy was named the small business of the month in September by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

The pharmacy is located at 854 Main Street West.

The award is sponsored by Enrichment Federal Credit Union, a press release said.

“Driven by the desire to better meet the needs of customers he had served for many years at a large pharmacy, Saad Aqqad opened Oak Ridge Pharmacy in July 2019,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce names Sassy Pants small business of the month

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Sassy Pants Sweets and Treats, located in Security Square in Oak Ridge, was recently named the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month. The award is sponsored by Enrichment Federal Credit Union. Pictured from right to left are Christine Michaels, Naomi Asher, Katy Watt, Sassy Pants owner Sheri Hartzog, Craig Peters, and Whitley Myers. (Submitted photo)

Sassy Pants Sweet & Treats is the inaugural winner of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Month for May 2021.

The award, sponsored by Enrichment Federal Credit Union, is awarded every month to a member of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. Businesses with 50 or fewer employees are eligible to receive this designation. To be considered, the establishment must have been in business for three or more years and show active involvement in the community and/or the chamber.

According to the nominator, “Sassy Pants moved and expanded operations at the beginning of the pandemic. They have done an amazing job staying engaged with the community and surviving during a time when other longer-established businesses were unable to stay open. They have fought hard to grow their business over the past year. I think this is worthy of being nominated as a small business of the month!” [Read more…]