The U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 12 named Business Council of Alabama member PROJECTXYZ in Huntsville as the 2017 Women-Owned Business Achievement Award winner during its annual Dream Big Small Business of the Year Award Celebration.
The annual awards ceremony presented by MetLife celebrates the achievements of small businesses and honors their contributions to America’s economic growth, the Chamber said.
Kim Lewis is majority owner and CEO of PROJECTXYZ. Her husband, Larry Lewis, is president.
“We at PROJECTXYZ are blessed and honored to be recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce,” Kim Lewis said. “The Women-Owned Business Achievement Award shows the strength of women-owned small business and we want to thank the U.S. Chamber for supporting us.
“We look forward to working with the BCA, the U.S. Chamber, and the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber on strengthening the growth of small businesses,” Kim Lewis said.
Award winners were selected by a panel of judges from 18 finalists in consideration for each of the five Business Achievement Awards and the one Dream Big Small Business of the Year Award. All 18 finalists were also eligible for the Community Excellence Award, which was decided through online public voting.
“Small business owners are the backbone of our nation, exemplifying the American Dream by working hard, taking risks, and helping strengthen their communities and local economies,” said U.S. Chamber President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue. “The Dream Big Award winners have gone above and beyond to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship, and we are proud to recognize these tremendous small businesses for all of their achievements.”
Award winners were announced at the Dream Big Awards Celebration as part of the 2017 Small Business Summit, which took place Sept. 10-13 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.
PROJECTXYZ, featured on the BCA website last month, is a technical solutions company using its expertise to solve problems and deliver results for federal and commercial customers at various locations throughout the United States.
Headquartered in Huntsville, the company provides expertise in the research, design, development, integration, and sustainment of innovative solutions in engineering, logistics, information technology, and alternative energy.
Founded in 2002, PROJECTXYZ is an economically disadvantaged, woman-owned small business.
The Chamber’s Woman-Owned Business Achievement Award recognizes a woman-owned, small business that has attained outstanding business achievement and exemplifies the significant contributions made by women-owned businesses in the country.
The business must be at least 51 percent owned or controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens. The business must also have management and daily operations controlled by at least one woman.