As our Tampa Bay Chamber enters the 45th year of the Small Business of the Year awards program and nomination season, we are sharing inspiring messages we have received from past nominees and winners. The 9-month journey, working with the SBOY Committee members, SBOY judges and mentoring/team building experiences that result from it are among the fruits of this process. Whether you end up with the title of "Small Business of the Year", countless participants say there are no losers in this process.
Here's Michelle Delker, Founder & CEO of the William Stanley CFO Group, in her own words:
Why did I want to apply for SBOY? What was in it for us? It was almost a comical question.
The Tampa Bay Chamber’s Small Business of the Year program is one of the most elite and prestigious programs around. As a small business owner, it’s easy to become the go-to expert—the one everyone looks to for answers. You’re the master of your domain. But, that can also make you a little one-dimensional. And, it can even create tunnel vision. The SBOY program completely disrupts that. It forces you to strip away the noise and focus on what truly matters—the heart of your business. Your mission. Your vision. Your values. And how your work strengthens the community. It challenges you to see your business through a new lens. To evaluate it from a different angle. And, to embrace collaboration. Growth. And, new opportunities.
Participating in this program was one of the most thought-provoking experiences of my life. It pushed me to think about my business in ways I never had before. And in the end, it didn’t just make me a better leader—it made me a better wife. A better mother. And, a better friend.
At this point, the better question is: Who WOULDN’T want to participate?
2024 SBOY Startup of the Year - The William Stanley CFO Group
Attend an upcoming Information Session hosted by the 2025 SBOY Committee:
- March 10: Tampa Bay Chamber, 9:00 – 10:00 AM
- April 8: Tampa Bay Chamber, 4:00 – 5:00 PM
- April 14: Virtual, 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Nomination period ends March 28, 2025, 5PM. Companies must be headquartered in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas or Polk Counties; and have between 5 – 250 employees. (Apply online. (Deadline is March 28)