Inside Tucson Business

Is your business a Southern Arizona Smart Inspiring Enterprise? Then it could win  a SASIE award.

The Arizona Small Business Association developed the SASIE awards program to “break the mold for business accolades,” as Charlie O’Dowd, the association’s senior vice president for Southern Arizona, puts it.

Print this story Email this story Post a Comment ADVERTISEMENT

The February awards will be the third annual SASIEs. A year ago, 46 businesses were in the final round of judging, selected from more than 250 nominations. The finalists provided more than 4,000 jobs in Southern Arizona.

“These companies are inspiring examples of what can be achieved while rising to the exciting challenges of running a business in this region,” O’Dowd says.

SASIE awards are made in five categories:

• Company culture — To the business with an exemplary positive atmosphere where the values of the company are aligned with the values of the people work for it.

• Creativity/Innovation — To companies that show imagination searching for opportunities to change, grow and improve.

• Commerce — To companies that demonstrate leadership and ingenuity in how they sell and market their product or service.

• Customer service — To companies demonstrating a clear commitment to providing a high level of customer service.

• Community — To companies that include community service and enviromental considerations in their plans.

To be eligible a company must be headquartered in Arizona and be in business for at least three years. Privately-held firms may nominate themselves.

Nominations can be made online at www.sasieawards.com. The deadline is Nov. 7.

The 2009 SASIE awards will be announced the night of Feb. 17 in an event at the Temple of Music & Art, 300 S. Scott Ave.