Feb. 11, 2007 — A gala on March 25 at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort will celebrate and honor 11 young entrepreneurs from St. Thomas, whose businesses represent significant successes in the local economy.
Initiated by Sen. Shawn-Michael Malone, the 2007 Young Entrepreneurship Awards Gala recognizes the achievements of entrepreneurs who have proven successful in their current business for more than three years. The businesses run the gamut from fine dining to hair stylists to waste-disposal services.
Malone, an advocate for local businesses, encourages the community to come out and support local small-business owners who represent the entrepreneurial spirit in the territory's younger generation: "They provide invaluable services to our residents and should be recognized for personifying the entrepreneurial spirit."
The honorees for 2007 are: Ashley Allen Jr. of Smooth Kreationz; Janae Francis of Supreme Cuts; Glenn Freeman of Millennium Phone and Cable; Lew Henley of Lew Henley's Waste Disposal; Winston Herbert of Lifestyle Barber Shop; Paris Nicholson IV of K-9 On Patrol Services (KOPS); Al Smith of Boopy Excavating; Gleason Thompson of 3G's Jewelry and Repair; and Eric and Nicole Horstmeyer and Zachary Zoller of Blue Shore Grill.
These recipients represent a wide range of services and personal stories. Blue Shore Grill, a parent company, runs Havana Blue, Frenchman's Reef and the independently operated restaurant at Marriott Morning Star Beach Resort. The chic eatery has drawn rave reviews. Co-owner Zoller is noteworthy not only for his work in the restaurant world but also as a renowned athlete, a bobsledder who represented the Virgin Islands in several Olympics.
Nicholson IV of KOPS has been training dogs for the past eight years, specializing in obedience and aggression training. Since the September 11 attacks, KOPS has provided bomb dogs for the cruise-ship industry and for use throughout the Caribbean.
Smooth Kreationz is a graphic studio that designs and produces everything from CD covers to business cards, fliers and posters.
This is the youngest and most illustrious class the gala has had, Malone says: "This is our chance to show them our appreciation. This is my way to spark the buzz."
Ticket prices for the gala are $50 and are available from Malone's office or from any of the honorees' businesses.
Back Talk Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
