Austin Chamber Announces Winners of 2015 Greater Austin Business Awards

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Austin Chamber of Commerce announced winners of its 15th Annual Greater Austin Business Awards. The awards were presented during ceremonies held on Thursday evening at the Hilton Austin in front of about 1,000 attendees.

"We are proud to recognize outstanding businesses in our community who are leading the way in diversity, innovation and creating prosperity for the Central Texas economy," said Phyllis Snodgrass, Chief Operating Officer, Austin Chamber of Commerce. "It's an honor to celebrate the many companies involved in our local communities and share a passion to keep Austin a great place to live, work and play."

About 300 companies were nominated for the Chamber's Business Awards. The winners were selected by an independent panel of judges except for the Most Uniquely Austin Award, which was selected by open public voting. Winners were announced in the following nine categories:

The Freescale Most Uniquely Austin Award recognizes a company that embraces Austin's unique culture and exemplifies what it means to live and do business in Austin. This year's winner is Kerbey Lane Café.

The Austin Energy Technology & Innovation Award recognizes any organization that employs new ideas or approaches to doing business. This year's winners are Raytheon│Websense, Large Division; FreightPros, Mid-Sized Division; and Mimiran, Small Division.

The Blackbaud & Entrepreneurs Foundation Non-Profit Award recognizes any Section 501(c)(3) public charity or private foundation that is tirelessly focused on serving the community through collaborative partnerships and impactful programming. This year's winner is Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas.

The Cook-Walden Community Relations Award recognizes any organization that demonstrates a successful approach to corporate social responsibility and can show a positive impact on the community. This year's winners are MAXIMUS, Large Division; Padgett Stratemann & Co., Mid-Sized Division; and Realty Austin, Small Division.

The British Airways International Trade, Investment & Expansion Award recognizes investments by international companies in Austin that create jobs locally, as well as Austin-based companies who have a global impact through products and services provided worldwide.  This year's winners are ETS-Lindgren LP, Bioo Scientific, and CAM-I.

The Higginbotham Health & Wellness Award recognizes any organization that actively encourages employees to engage in a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle. This year's winners are Rackspace, Large Division; CSID, Mid-Sized Division; and The Karis Group, Small Division.

The Intel Environmental Responsibility & Sustainability Award recognizes any organization that demonstrates commitment to environmentally sound practices. This year's winners are HID Global, Large Division; Native, Mid-Sized Division; and Zipcar, Small Division.

The KPMG Executive Leadership Award recognizes presidents, principals or chief executive officers for devoting time and energy to strengthen and transform the organization they lead. This year's winners are Ernest Cunningham of One Source Networks, Large Division; Chris Taylor of Square Root, Mid-Sized Division; and James DiMeo of Charles Maund Toyota, Small Division.

The Time Warner Cable Business Class Customer Service & Loyalty Award recognizes any organization in any industry dedicated to outstanding customer service and satisfaction in all aspects of sales and service. This year's winners are BuildASign, Large Division; Barnett Auto Group (Onion Creek Volkswagen), Mid-Sized Division; and IT Freedom, Small Division.

About the Austin Chamber
The mission of the Austin Chamber of Commerce is to provide leadership that facilitates the creation of a prosperous regional economy and effective advocacy for its 3,000+ members. For more information about the Austin Chamber of Commerce visit AustinChamber.com.

Media Inquiries:
Jenny Steward
Public Relations Manager
Austin Chamber of Commerce
O: 512.322.5637
jsteward@austinchamber.com

SOURCE Austin Chamber of Commerce