Small Business Person of the Year Award Luncheon - 2012

Join the Chamber on May 22 for our Small Business Person of the Year Award Luncheon, as we honor this year's award recipient, Kay Lakhi of The Rite Bite, and salute small businesses everywhere for their contributions to our economy and our community. The event is sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
The luncheon, held in the ballroom of The Worthington Inn, will begin at 11:30 a.m. and conclude at 1:15 p.m. The honoree will share with luncheon attendees some of the business philosophies and strategies that have led to success as a small business person.
The luncheon menu is as follows. Please indicate on your registration if you need a vegetarian meal.


Endive and watercress salad with blue cheese, walnuts and sherry vinaigrette
Chicken roulade -chicken rolled with prosciutto and fontina cheese, served with green onion mashed potatoes and asparagus
Mango sorbet with a lime zinger


The meal cost is $26 per member and $36 per non-member. Reservations must be received by May 21. To reserve your place, click REGISTER NOW on the screen at right, follow the prompts, then click SUBMIT. You will receive a confirmation e-mail when successfully registered.   

 
The luncheon is the highlight of a series of Chamber events held during National Small Business Week to acknowledge the accomplishments of small businesses everywhere. 

About the honoree:
Kay Lak hi, president of The Rite Bite (and owner of a second business, Dietary Solutions), is the 26th honoree of the Small Business Person of the Year Award.

With educational background and experience in nutrition, dietetics and health care administration, Kay launched The Rite Bite nine years ago with a vision to make a difference in the health of every client served and to "create healthy balance" in the lives of residents and employees in our surrounding community. 
 
The focus of The Rite Bite has evolved over the past few years to meet the needs of the community and now has two areas of expertise – physical fitness and nutrition education for clients of The Rite Bite’s Fitness and Nutrition Center, and decreasing health risks and improving overall health for employees through workplace wellness programs. Evidence-based research is the foundation of The Rite Bite’s approach to helping clients decrease health risks and improve overall health and well-being.
The Rite Bite’s Fitness and Nutrition Center offers physical fitness, nutrition education and massage at one convenient location, where clients have access to a full-service gym with personal training, yoga, dance classes, spinning and TRX.  Licensed registered dietitians complete the all-inclusive approach to wellness. 
The Rite Bite also has become respected for Corporate Wellness programs that educate employees about a healthy lifestyle and decrease employers’ health care costs. Kay has built and oversees a team of highly credentialed health care workers including: licensed dietitians and nurses, exercise physiologists, certified personal trainers, and licensed massage therapists.
A registered and licensed dietician, Kay also has board and committee leadership experience with the Ohio Healthcare Association’s Dietary Counsel, the Columbus Dietetic Association, and the Ohio Consultant Dietitians Practice Group, among others.
Kay is also a dedicated Chamber volunteer and, in February, completed four years on the Chamber’s board of trustees, including two years as board chair. She has chaired the Reds, Whites & Desserts event, and The Rite Bite has sponsored, hosted and volunteered at numerous other Chamber events, including a Business After Hours, Women’s Business Network, Lunch and Learn, membership drive and QuickConnect activities. Kay and her husband, Ken, have two grown children.
About the award:

Initiated in 1987, the Chamber’s Small Business Person of the Year Award Program is one of the ways our organization demonstrates its support for small businesses and recognizes those who are succeeding, have shown growth and are involved in the betterment of the Worthington community. To be eligible for this award, candidates must be independently owned, have equity position in the company or be a locally owned franchise. They must have operated their business for at least three years and currently be located within the Chamber’s service area. Candidates must have 50 or fewer employees and have demonstrated community involvement. Those who are nominated must also show examples of successful solutions to business problems, have a reputation for personal integrity and fair business practices, be financially strong and profitable and demonstrate management or product innovation.
Honorees are selected by a committee of past award recipients. Past recipients of the award, and their businesses at the time of the award, are:

Dwight Moody (1987), Moody’s Paper Store
Steve Potter (1988), Potter Builders, Inc.
Tom Hull, D.D.S. (1989), Dental Practice
Joe Mezera (1990), The Mezera Company
Robert Vosler (1991), Vosler Company, CPAs
Raean M. Foust (1992), American Traditions
Richard Hunter (1993), Potter Lumber & Supply Co.
George Norris, D.V. M. (1994), Animal Hospital of Worthington
Phil Giessler (1995), Cam Taylor Co., Ltd.,Realtors
Charles Claibourne, D.D.S. (1996), Dental Practice
Steve Schnulo, O.D. (1997), Albright & Schnulo, Optometrists
Matt Anderson (1998), Anderson’s FrameDesign
Kathryn R. Paugh (1999), KRP Communications
Gloria Yonadi (2000), Kerbler’s Restaurant
Nicki Budin (2001), Curio Cabinet & Christmas Village (Deceased)
William Dawson (2002), NexTech Materials, Ltd.
Darla King (2003), King Business Interiors
Charlotte Van Steyn (2004), RE/MAX Premier Choice Realtors
Bryan Myers (2005), B&C Blacktop Sealing, Inc.
Mike Beck (2006), Think Painting
Bill Alsnauer (2007), State Farm Insurance & Financial Services/Bill Alsnauer Agency
Tom Hastings (2008), Computer Site Columbus
Bill Owens (2009), Owens Construction Contracting Co.
Joe Davis (2010), Worthington Jewelers
Anthony Lordo, D.D.S.,   (2011), Dental Practice