Small Business Month Kicks-off with Business Before Hours

Palm Beach Gardens, FL– More than 100 local professionals and entrepreneurs gathered on Thursday, May 13 to celebrate the U.S. Chamber’s Small Business Month during Business Before Hours at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott. Produced by the Northern Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Intelligent Office, the event featured the self-proclaimed “Forest Gump of entrepreneurism,” Neal Asbury, famed author and host of the nationally syndicated talk radio show Neal Asbury’s Truth For America. The Chamber also announced the finalists for the Small Business of the Year Award, one of its four prestigious Leadership Awards.

Asbury spoke with guests on rising to become the Small Business Administration’s 2008 National Exporter of the Year from his start as a music degree graduate from Rowan State University. Now the chief executive officer of The Legacy Companies, Asbury discussed beginning his career as a sales manager in Asia and the challenges of founding his first company in the Philippines, manufacturing goods for McDonalds in the midst of civil unrest. He also educated attendees on Palm Beach County’s role in American small business history – the modern-day ice cream scoop was conceived by inventor Sherman Kelly while on vacation in West Palm Beach.

The event also honored Sharon Quercioli, founder of the Palm Beach Gardens-based Sprouts Inc. and recipient of the 2009 Small Business of the Year Award, for receiving the U.S. Chamber’s 2010 Free Enterprise Award. The Northern Palm Beach County Chamber selects one company each year to receive the Small Business of the Year award based on four categories: customer service, community involvement, innovation and response to adversity. The three finalists for this year’s award are: ESPN 760, a sports radio station; Dreamstar Custom Homes; and FASTFRAME. The winner will be announced at the Chamber’s annual Leadership Awards Dinner on Thursday, June 17.

“As a leading provider of virtual office space, so many of our top clients are small business owners,” said David Middleton, owner of Intelligent Office. “That’s why partnering with the Chamber to sponsor this important event was a perfect fit for us. We were so excited to have Neal lend his valuable insight and to honor the finalists of the Small Business of the Year Award.”

About the Northern Palm Beach County Chamber of CommerceThe Northern Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization whose over 1,000 members represent all aspects of business and industry. Its continuing mission is to be the unified voice of business driving sustainable growth and prosperity. The Chamber is focused on the development and retention of businesses, taking an active role in the community and providing valuable member services.

For more information about how to sign up for upcoming Business Before Hours events, please visit www.npbchamber.com or call the Chamber at 561-746-7111.

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