November 1 Tampa, FL. - The Tampa Bay Chamber proudly presents the winners of the 2024 Small Business of the Year Awards. Congratulations to The William Stanley CFO Group, named Startup Business of the Year; Gaston’s Culinary Services, named Small Business of the Year 5-20 Employees Category; DCE Productions, named Small Business of the Year 21-50 Employees Category; EMS Consulting, named Small Business of the Year 51-250 Employees Category; and Micha Seal of Watermelon Swim, named Outstanding Small Business Leader of the Year.
Winners were revealed November 1 at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay during the Chamber’s 44th Annual Small Business of the Year Awards. More than 400 guests gathered this year to celebrate small businesses in a tradition dating back to 1980. During the awards ceremony, winners’ acceptance speeches were incredibly emotional – more so in the aftermath of two hurricanes in 13 days which impacted so many local businesses. Onstage, winners brought many guests to their feet with applause and joy filled tears. "Now more than ever, we need to celebrate our successes so that we can unite and rebuild as a community. In my eight years serving on the SBOY committee, it has never been more important," said Leigh Harting, SBOY Committee Chair and owner of 3 Daughters Brewing. "We need to celebrate the resilience, sacrifices and passion of small business owners at a time when so many have been battered and worn down by two devastating hurricanes."
To enjoy the acceptance speeches for yourself, visit our Chamber website where video clips will be posted in the coming days.
Each year, approximately 400 nominations are received and reviewed during a 9-month process. Judging involves the efforts of more than 50 Chamber Member volunteers who review the comprehensive applications, host interviews for the semi-finalists round and conduct site visits of the finalists. The SBOY Committee examines company finances, community involvement and ethical business practices. This signature event was proudly presented by two past winners of SBOY winners, Adcock Financial and Vistra Communications.
Here’s a closer look at winners of the 44th Annual Small Business of the Year Awards!
Startup: The William Stanley CFO Group
The William Stanley CFO Group is a boutique financial services firm partnering with small to mid-sized organizations to identify and capture unrecognized assets, creating a clear path toward greater cash flows and a stronger balance sheet. The firm prides itself removing obstacles, providing the clarity necessary to optimize the client’s organization - diversifying offerings, bolstering margins, and managing risk - ultimately increasing enterprise value and advancing the organization to the next level.
5–20 Employees: Gaston’s Culinary Services
Gaston’s Culinary Services is an award-winning premier and off-site caterer, offering a wide variety of options, from simple to lavish, small to large, and craft services to banquets. Located in Tampa, the company caters for fine events throughout Florida. Services include options such as Plated, Buffets, Hors d ’Oeuvres, Chef Stations, Custom menus and more. Clients include NFL Super Bowl and Tampa Bay Buccaneers players, as well as corporate clients such as USAA, TECO and GTE Financial, just to name a few.
21–50 Employees: DCE Productions
DCE Productions is a premium services provider in event and video production, specializing in crafting immersive experiences for in-person and virtual audiences. Founders built the production company by taking a non-traditional approach to the model of hotel ballroom and convention center events. The company offers comprehensive AV solutions, event experience design, video production, and event management services. Clients extend beyond its base of operations in the Tampa Bay region. The corporate event planning and production company also specializes in virtual and hybrid event productions, staging, AV project management, event website & registration.
51–250 Employees: EMS Consulting
EMS Consulting accelerates digital transformation for financial services nationwide. With over 25 years of experience, the company offers clients customized services and products, including strategic consulting, program management, and advisory services to help organizations develop their vision, roadmap, and change management strategies. EMS also implements Salesforce products such as Financial Services Cloud, Sales Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Service Cloud, CRMA, Einstein, and Data Cloud. Its specialized modules include customer service, pipeline management, branch management, digital account opening, and treasury management.
Outstanding Leader: Micha Seal of Watermelon Swim
Micha Seal is the owner of Watermelon Swim, a fierce business leader, Tampa Bay area native and devoted mother of six. Her passion for community engagement led her to create Watermelon Swim (WMS): a year-round, learn to swim business that teaches swimming, safety, and survival from birth through adults. Micha’s start in the aquatics industry dates to 1979 when her mother founded the Seal Swim School in an above ground pool in the backyard. In August 2021, Micha pivoted to become CEO and Owner, acquiring the four indoor locations of the family business and rebranding the company to Watermelon Swim.
About the Tampa Bay Chamber: Serving the region since 1885, the Tampa Bay Chamber is a not-for-profit membership organization, currently serving approximately 1,400 member companies of all sizes and industries. With a coveted 5-star rating by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, it is ranked in the top 2% of chambers in the nation. Learn more about the Chamber’s work with small businesses and the SBOY Committee.