Naperville, Ill. (May 21, 2012) – The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the winners of the 15th-annual Small Business of the Year (SBY) Awards.

This year's awards gala took place Friday from 6-10 p.m. at the Chicago Marriott Naperville, located at 1801 Naper Boulevard.

“The Small Business of the Year Awards is the Chamber’s top honor,” said Chamber President & CEO John Schmitt. “It’s the business community's way of recognizing outstanding work done of, for and by the Members. And every business nominated is a true winner.”

The SBY Awards are divided into six categories with one overall winner: Business-to-Business, Business-to-Consumer, Professional, Not-for-Profit, Retail and Excellence in Business. Members nominate one another for the awards. Once nominations are submitted, the winners are selected by the blue-ribbon committee—a panel of last year's winners.

The winners of this year’s SBY Awards are as follows:

Business-to-Business: Vintage Tech Recyclers

Business-to-Consumer: Clark’s Car Care

Professional: Jeffrey Ross Photography

Not-for-Profit: Naperville CARES

Retail: Two Bostons

Excellence in Business (awarded to companies established fewer than five years): WAR Chest Boutique, Profit Focused Principles, and Top Level Fitness

And the 2012 overall SBY winner is Clark’s Car Care.

“Congratulations to all of this year’s winners,” Schmitt said. “Several past winners of these awards have gone on to receive regional, state and national recognition for their businesses, and I have no doubt these new winners will do the same.”

One more special award is also presented at the SBY Awards: the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is given each year to one business and civic leader for their commitment to Naperville’s business community, excellence in business stewardship, contributions to the region’s quality of life, and leadership in support of economic progress.

The recipient of the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award is longtime resident and Sun Times columnist Tim West.

“Tim is committed to the idea that a free and vibrant press, combined with the input and thoughts of a variety of decision makers, creates positive outcomes for the community. No one person or group has all the answers and Tim, along with the Naperville Sun, will continue to be a forum for debate about our community's future,” said Schmitt.

The Chamber would like to thank all of this year’s nominees, panel judges and attendees for a very successful 15th anniversary event.

For more information on the SBY Awards or the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, please visit www.naperville.net.