Robert Altizer with Raymond James Dearborn was the recipient of the Business Leader of the Year Award at the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce 2018 Chamber Choice Awards & Expo. The 2019 event, presented by Ford Land, will honor five individuals and organizations and over 80 businesses celebrating milestone anniversaries in the Dearborn and metropolitan Detroit area March 15 at The Henry Hotel.
Dearborn — The Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce will host its Chamber Choice Awards & Expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 15 at the Henry Hotel.
Tickets are $50 for chamber members, and $65 for non-members. Space is limited. To register or to view sponsorship opportunities, go to www.DearbornAreaChamber.org or call 313-584-6100.
Five individuals as well as 80 organizations celebrating milestone anniversaries will be honored at the event. Business Expo showcasing over 40 metropolitan Detroit area businesses will take place prior to lunch from 10 a.m. to noon.
The DACC will honor KLA Laboratories as Business of the Year. This year KLA Laboratories will celebrate 90 years in the Dearborn business community.
KLA Laboratories, a family run business founded in 1929, does a range of IT and communication services, including installing audio and visual systems, building WI-FI networks, and providing event production services. It has managed the Detroit Tigers, public address systems since 1935 and most recently worked on Little Caesars Arena.
“KLA is honored to be recognized as Business of the Year by the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce,” KLA President and CEO Matthew O’Bryan said. “As a resident and business owner, Dearborn provides an excellent environment that promotes growth and prosperity for its neighborhoods, citizens and the business community. As KLA celebrates our 90th anniversary, we are proud to call Dearborn ‘home.’”
Dearborn Public Schools Supt. Glenn Maleyko will be the recipient of the Business Leader of the Year Award. Maleyko recently was named the 2019 Michigan Superintendent of the Year Award by the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators. DPS also was recognized as one of 45 district nationwide celebrating innovation and excellence in K-12 education.
“Receiving this prestigious award is a recognition of the hard work taking place in our district to benefit the students we serve,” Maleyko said. “I am proud to be the superintendent of our outstanding district. I am also very proud that our school district is a member of the chamber of commerce. This is an outstanding group that provides awesome leadership in the community and that is what makes this award and recognition such an honor.
“All of us in education understand that our work is never done and we must always deliver the very best instruction. However, when I see our students excited to be at school, the enthusiasm in their face, and when I witness first-hand the success they are having in the classroom, I feel very optimistic about the future of Dearborn, this state, and this great nation.”
John Zadikian Multimedia will receive the Small Business of the Year Award. 2019 marks Zadikian’s 10th year of being in business. A community pillar, Zadikian is active as a multi-winner of the DACC’s Ambassador of the Year award, winner of the Dearborn Heights Goodfellow of the Year and the Paul Harris Fellow award from the Rotary Club of Dearborn Heights.
“Ten years ago, I took the same scary step many of my contemporaries take: the first one to entrepreneurship,” Zadikian said. “The smartest thing I did was join the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce. The staff and memberships’ recognition of my talents and investment in John Zadikian Multimedia far exceeded my expectations. This award would not be possible without their tremendous support.”
The Impact of the Year Award will go to Ford Land.
“We are honored to be recognized with the esteemed award,” said Dave Dubensky, Ford Land chairman and CEO. “Dearborn is our home and our recent Wagner Place development further exemplifies our commitment to the city and our vision to provide a work setting that continues to attract top talent to Ford Motor Co. and the Dearborn area.”
“Our chamber established the Impact Award in 2015 to honor those who truly impact our area and lives every day,” DACC President Jackie Lovejoy said. “Ford Land’s commitment to the area and demonstrating leadership leading up to this momentous year and undertakings made their nomination a shoo-in!”
The Start Up Business of the Year will go to ZeeTheCook Culinary Studio, a cooking and baking school that teaches people of all ages how to be creative and successful in the kitchen. The focus of ZTC is to bring people together for a fun and exciting social experience they will never forget.
Zee, also offers customized corporate team-building events, birthday parties, day camps when your kids are off school, family reunions and more. As a licensed kitchen facility, owner, Zee Shami and her team of chefs also offer catering services and healthy meals to Dearborn residents on-the-go.
“I am extremely humbled and proud to be receiving this award from the chamber and look forward to always making our city proud with my work at ZeeTheCook,” Shami said.
The Expo and luncheon will include a video component spotlighting each awardee, and also will highlight businesses celebrating milestone anniversaries from five to 170 years.
The Expo provides companies exposure at a premier venue to promote their products and services to more than 350 business owners, community leaders and corporate professionals.