News

[October 28, 2011] – At the Commerce Lexington Inc. Salute to Small Business Awards Luncheon presented by Cumberland Valley National Bank & Trust, Creative Lodging Solutions was named the 2011 Small Business of the Year. Last year marked a new format for Commerce Lexington’s small business awards program with more categories, more winners, more eligible local businesses, and the opportunity for further recognition on the state and national levels.

Creative Lodging Solutions, the recipient of this year’s Business Success Award, was chosen among six different category winners as the Small Business of the Year. The company will now be submitted by the Bluegrass Small Business Development Center for state and national recognition through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Creative Lodging Solutions (CLS) was founded in 2002 by Michael L. Tetterton, Carolyn Hundley, and Marsha Couch with the sole purpose of saving companies millions of dollars in hotel and travel expenses through its customized lodging programs that specialize in long-term, project-based stays. Tetterton’s extensive hotel industry background and an excellent business model have fueled the company’s rapid growth, landing it on the Inc. 500|5000 list of the fastest-growing, private companies in America for the second consecutive year.

CLS has not only developed innovative solutions to help clients recognize significant cost-savings by researching hotels, negotiating rates, and booking room reservations, but it has also found ways to increase the productivity of its employees through things like a public scorecard of measurements for each department and technological enhancements, such as the internal development of its own proprietary software. Employee growth has gone from five people on staff in 2002 to 77 today, and CLS was ranked third among the 2011 Best Places to Work in Kentucky for small and medium-sized companies.

Commerce Lexington Inc. President and CEO, Bob Quick, said, “Much of what Commerce Lexington Inc. does is geared toward small businesses. After all, some 90-percent of the Commerce Lexington membership is made up of small businesses, while the small business segment contributes to most of the job growth nationally and in Fayette County, generates much of the innovations that come from U.S. companies, and employs over half of the country’s private sector workforce. I always leave these events energized and motivated by the stories we hear about our impressive local small businesses.”

2011 SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS AWARD CATEGORY WINNERS:

Business Success Award Winner: Creative Lodging Solutions
The Business Success category award recognizes a business for exceptional company operations, products and services, growth, response to adversity, and other unique aspects that set the business apart from its competition.

Green Initiative Award Winner: DelCotto Law Group
The Salute to Small Business Green Initiative Award recognizes a business or organization for implementing green initiatives – either internal or external – that encourage sustainable business practices and environmentally-friendly ways to do business.

Legacy Award Winner: Barney Miller’s
The Salute to Small Business Legacy Award is awarded to exceptional companies that have been in business for 25 years or more, multi-generational businesses, and past Commerce Lexington Salute to Small Business award winners.

Minority Business Award Winner: Bluegrass Veterinary Specialists
The Salute to Small Business Minority Business Award recognizes an outstanding minority-owned company for its exceptional products and services, growth, its response to adversity, and other unique aspects that set it apart from the competition.

Nonprofit Award Winner: Blue Grass Community Foundation
The Salute to Small Business Non-Profit Award recognizes a non-profit organization that has shown significant impact and return on investment, the ability to inspire and engage volunteers, and ways to maximize its output and reach within the community.

Young Entrepreneur Award Winner: Benezet and Associates
The Salute to Small Business Young Entrepreneur Award recognizes an outstanding entrepreneur under the age of 35 for operating a small business for at least a three-year track record of success.

Find out more the 2011 Salute to Small Business category award winners at www.commercelexington.com.