A record crowd gathered this week to hear the City of Covington name the winners of its 2018 Business Excellence Awards.
The competition was stiff: This year also saw a record number of nominations, with 87 unique businesses receiving 137 nominations in eight categories.
“These businesses represent the creativity, resourcefulness and innovation that makes our business community so special,” said Mayor Joe Meyer during the awards ceremony at the Madison Event Center, the fourth year for the City’s business recognition program.
The eight category winners:
Wunderbar, 1132 Lee St., for “Significant Business Growth”
Klingenberg’s Hardware & Paint, 26 W. 7th St. and 3916 Winston Ave, for “Exceptional Customer Service”
Moonrise Doughnut Shop, 3718 Winston Ave., for “Innovation” (Unique or Innovative Product or Service)
Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission, 717 Madison Ave., for “Community Champion”
Herb & Thelma’s Tavern, 718 W. Pike St., for “History/Longevity”
Hotel Covington, 638 Madison Ave., for “New Business” (Minimum 1 year, less than 3 years)
Renaissance Covington, 2 W. Pike St., for “Out of the Box” (Unique/Specialty Business)
Handzy Shop + Studio, 15 W. Pike St., for “Exceptional Aesthetics” (stewardship, beautification)
In addition, KW Mechanical Inc. of 25 E. 32nd St. was honored with the “Spirit of Progress” award for being a valued partner in furthering the City of Covington’s goals, interests and economy.
“The people at KW Mechanical are innovators, they have created a one-stop service system for all mechanical needs in the residential and commercial service industry,” Meyer said. “They are engaged in making our city and community a better place to live in many ways, large and small.”
Covington officials said they were thrilled by the enthusiasm of everyone who nominated their favorite businesses as well as by the high number, diversity and quality of the nominees.
“As you have seen tonight, Covington is blessed with incredible business talent,” Meyer said.
To choose the winners, the City sent the 137 nominations to a panel of local business association representatives, who ranked the nominees within each category.
The finalists in each category were also recognized, as were four lists of businesses in Covington: Those that have been around for 100 years or more, those that have been around for 50 years to 100 years, the Top 25 Employers and the Top 25 Growth Companies.
Here are the finalists in each category, as well as the businesses which have achieved milestones:
Significant Business Growth
Wunderbar
Scooter Media
Blinkers Tavern
Exceptional Customer Service
Klingenberg’s Hardware & Paint
Moonrise Doughnuts
Frank’s Men’s Shop
The Point Perk
Bean Haus
Innovation (Unique or Innovative Product or Service)
Moonrise Doughnut Shop
Chroma Vino Paint Bar + Gift Shop
Braxton Brewing Company
CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting
Grainwell Market Home & Gift
Community Champion
Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission
The Point Arc
Moonrise Doughnuts
ServPro of Kenton County
Renaissance Covington
History/Longevity
Herb & Thelma’s Tavern
Klingenberg’s Hardware & Paint
Covington Ladies Home
The Sanders Law Firm
Welcome House of Northern Kentucky, Inc.
New Business (Minimum 1 year, less than 3 years)
Hotel Covington
Chroma Vino Paint Bar + Gift Shop
Lisse Steakhuis
Rooted Yoga
Handzy Shop + Studio
Out of the Box (Unique/Specialty Business)
Renaissance Covington
Gutierrez Deli
Papas Candies
Yankee Doodle Deli
Strange Stock Art Conservation
Exceptional Aesthetics (stewardship, beautification)
Handzy Shop + Studio
Lost Art Press
House of Orange
Left Bank Coffeehouse
100 years or more
Allison & Rose Funeral Home
Motch Jewelers
St. Elizabeth Healthcare
Rusk Heating & Cooling
Fedders Feed & Seed
Truitt Roofing
Linnemann Funeral Homes (Serenity Funeral Care)
Kentucky Federal Savings & Loan
Citizens Federal Savings & Loan
Covington Ladies Home
Adams Stepner Woltermann & Dusing Law Firm
D C Morrison Co.
Swindler & Currin Funeral Home
Riggs Hearing & Vision
Boeckley/Ruwe Pharmacy (Latonia)
Frank’s Men’s Shop
Congratulations to KW Mechnical for “Spirit of Progress Award”.They are a great company and very deserving of this award.