Blue Moon Grill Named 2012 Small Business Of The Year

Blue Moon Grill, Fulton, won the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce  (GOFCC) Small Business of the Year award, it was announced by Beth Hilton, GOFCC executive director.

The award was part of the 15th Annual Small Business Breakfast, held this year at The Oasis at Thunder Island, Rt. 48, Fulton. Other nominees for Small Business of the Year included 24-Hour Record Retriever & Abstract, Morningstar Residential Care, Oswego County Federal Credit Union, and The Press Box.

The breakfast capped a week of GOFCC activities in Fulton devoted to small businesses in Oswego County. Among these was a reception for local government representatives and chamber members, a Small Business Expo with displays and presentations by and for local businesses, and a Business After Hours networking event. Presenting sponsors for the week were PathFinder Bank and Fulton Savings Bank. The week’s Entrepreneur Level sponsor was SUNY Oswego’s Office of Business and Community Relations and Keech Photography, Oswego, provided photography services at all events.

Blue Moon Grill won the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GOFCC) Small Business of the Year award, it was announced by Beth Hilton, GOFCC executive director. Bill and Karen Hubel (center), co-owners of Blue Moon Grill and Under The Moon restaurants accepts their award from Hilton (right) and GOFCC Board President Barbara Bateman at the chamber’s recent Small Business Breakfast. The breakfast capped a week of GOFCC activities in Fulton devoted to small businesses in Oswego County. Among these was a reception for local government representatives and chamber members, a Small Business Expo with displays and presentations by and for local businesses, and a Business After Hours networking event. Presenting sponsors for the week were PathFinder Bank and Fulton Savings Bank. The week’s Entrepreneur Level sponsor was SUNY Oswego’s Office of Business and Community Relations, and Keech Photography, Oswego, provided photography services at all events.

“Our judges independently evaluate each nominee in 3 categories valued at up to 5 points each, for a maximum total of 15 points.” Hilton explained.  “The scores are then compiled and the winner is determined by a weighted average of the scores—often resulting in 10th’s of a point between nominees.  All scores are kept completely confidential. All nominees must be Chamber Members in good standing as of May 25, 2012.

Blue Moon, co-owned by Bill and Karen Hubel, had been nominated twice before, Hilton said. “Blue Moon opened for business in December of 2005 in Fulton, after 16 years working with another local establishment,” Hilton explained in her presentation. “Following years of success which included the addition of a well-established catering business, Bill and Karen decided to make a $200,000 investment in a private function venue, located beneath their existing business, to meet the growing demand of their customers.  Despite working on average 6 days a week each, while raising a son, this year’s very humble winners are active in the community through a number of Chamber events. Among these are: Tunes in June, Jazz Festival, Project Bloom, and serving on the Chamber’s Board of Directors. They are regular contributors to a wide variety of community events benefitting the American Cancer Society, ARC, Catholic Charities, Child Advocacy Center, Elks Club, Fulton Athletic Boosters, Fulton Library, Fulton Little League/Fulton Youth Hockey, Girl Scouts/Cub Scouts, Historical Society, Hospice Cup Regatta, Fulton Lions Club, Make A Wish Foundation, Oswego County BOCES Special Education, Oswego County Opportunities, The American Red Cross and the United Way.

Other Small Business awards included: Not-For-Profit of the Year, which was won by the Child Advocacy Center of Oswego County, Fulton; and New Business of the year, which was awarded to The Steele Law Firm, Oswego.

The keynote speaker for the event was Alexander Grimshaw, CEO of PPS International Ltd., headquartered in Fulton, Hilton said. PPS is a human resources consulting firm specializing in integrated leadership development

For more information, visit the chamber web site, www.oswegofultonchamber.com or contact the chamber at 315-343-7681.

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