Although I will concede that I don’t get out as much as I used to, tonight was one of the most enjoyable evenings I have had in a while.  The event, of course, was the U.S. Chamber Small Business of the Year Awards Dinner.

Past U.S. Chamber Chair Maura Donahue hosted and was assisted on stage by John Furner from Sam’s Club who graciously sponsored the award.  I have to say, Maura and John executed the most brilliant sponsor and host acknowledgement pas de deux I have seen at this type of event.  I could describe it to you, but you had to be there.  So, you know, next year be here.

The regional finalists, announced in early March, were all on hand and it was a spirited affair.  I had the pleasure of sitting with Dr. David Powers, a former Marine who is now running their family business Ocean Breeze Awnings in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  I felt like a bit of a uschamber.com magazine groupie as I recognized Dr. Powers from our November 2006 Success Insight article.  We chatted about religion and politics, topics which are only polite in Washington D.C., that and how much you paid for your house.

There were great videos of all of the finalists and I will post those as soon as I get them converted, which will not be tonight, the high-energy of our entrepreneurs has exhausted me.

But enough already…the winner of the 2008 U.S. Chamber Small Business of the Year Award is...

Finalist from the Midwest Region...

From Burnsville, Minnesota...

PERMAC INDUSTRIES!  (trust me, wild applause, go ahead, clap at home).

I had the pleasure of meeting Darlene Miller last week, when she was in town discussing the economic stimulus package with President Bush, and she was equally delightful tonight. 

A week ago she credited her employees with all of her company's success and she did again tonight.

She concluded her thank you speech with "Yay Minnesota".

Yay Minnesota indeed, and yay Darlene and yay Permac and yay to Abstract Displays and Bayshore Solutions and Gracewinds Perinatal Services and Mammen Glass & Mirror and Seconn Fabrication and Tredway, Lumsdaine & Doyle.

They are wonderful companies, it was a wonderful evening.