The Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of the 2009 Annual Celebration of Excellence on October 29, 2009. Winners were chosen by a selection committee from finalists who were nominated by Chamber members and businesspeople throughout the Airport Corridor. Finalists and winners alike were treated to special recognition at the event, held at Cefalo’s Nightclub in Carnegie.  

The ACE awards were presented to:

Young Entrepreneur Award: Bruce Freshwater, CEO of Sierra w/o Wires
Sierra w/o Wires and Bruce’s team help their customers to engage Information Technology to allow them to build strategic business and technology alliances that focus on what they do best, their business.   

Innovative Business of the Year Award: Midnight Blue Technology Services
Midnight Blue Technology Services provides a network monitoring and support service for small businesses that don’t have their own IT staffs.  This service is differentiated by its ability to be proactive and addresses potential network issues BEFORE they happen.  

Small Business Advocate: Bill Ringle, Callidus Group
Bill works as a trusted business advisor with the owners/leaders of privately held small businesses.  His career in the specialty steel and titanium industry focused on domestic and international sales to the aerospace markets.  Ringle is a certified FastTrac® facilitator for the Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City.  

Small Business Excellence Award: Zingrone Landscaping
Joe Zingrone began the business in 1993. Now, with six trucks, 10 employees and a ton of equipment customers call on Zingrone for anything including:  French drains, patio and paving jobs, decks, retaining walls, landscape design, and snow and tree removal.

Finalists and winners alike were treated to special recognition at the event, held at Cefalo’s Nightclub in Carnegie.