1 of 4
Photo by Isaac Harrell
2 of 4
MaryJo Myers-Battiston of Imago Photo by Isaac Harell
3 of 4
West End Antiques Mall
4 of 4
Donna Anderson of Petit Pet Inn & Spa Photo by Isaac Harrell
Best Tattoo Shop
River City Tattoo
1128 N. Boulevard, 359-5252
Tattoo consumers — and in Richmond, voted third most tattooed city in the nation, there are a lot of them — are feeling patriotic these days. Traditional American tattoos and sleeves are in high demand, says Brad Douglas, an employee at River City Tattoo for five years.
2. Salvation Tattoo Gallery
3. Trademark Tattoo
Best Locally Owned Toy Store
World of Mirth 3005 W. Cary St., 353-8991 Since World of Mirth moved to its current Carytown location in 1999, General Manager Thea Brown says that when kids walk into the store, their eyes go wide and their jaws drop. "It's not just the kids. Grown-ups react the same way," she says. The shop is filled to bursting with amusements — from old-school robots to bizarre stuffed animals and novelty magnets. Why should kids get to have all the fun? 2. Toys That Teach 3. The Toy Center
For the complete list, pick up the August Best & Worst issue, on newsstands now.
Best Real-Estate Agent
(Tie) Cabell Childress; George Cumming; Wayne Gauthier Childress: 11225 Nuckols Road, Glen Allen, 420-2145; Cumming: 511 N. Meadow St., 592-6736; Gauthier: 319 Maple Ave., 270-9440 "People are looking past the walls of the house to become part of a community," says Cumming, an agent in and around the Fan for almost 10 years. Gauthier has worked mostly in South Side since 2004, and says buyers love outdoor attractions like the James River Park System. "Ninety-eight percent of our buyers are referrals or repeat clients," says Childress, an agent here since 2001.
Best Locally Owned Shop for Cosmetics
Le Visage Makeup Boutique 3313 B W. Cary St., 342-5867 Le Visage Makeup Boutique prides itself on offering product lines that are animal-cruelty free; and the shop notes that each product line has been "tested, worn and slept in" before making it to the shelves. The boutique, which recently changed locations within Carytown, also has the distinction of being Richmond's only certified Xtreme Lashes styling center. 2. Merle Norman Cosmetics
Best Car Dealer
Lexus of Richmond
9703 Midlothian Turnpike, 323-8000
Patrons who use Lexus of Richmond's service center can get free loaner vehicles or enjoy free coffee and pastries and use the dealership's iPads while they wait. And while Lexus is known for its luxury cars, General Manager Tom Flood says the dealership has something extra special in stock at the moment: the Lexus LFA 2012, a super sports car with a top speed of 202 miles per hour (yours for only $380,000).
2. McGeorge Toyota
3. (Tie) Pearson Honda; West Broad Honda
Best Bridal Salon Experience
Bella Rosa Bridal and Special Occasions
3979 Deep Rock Road, 855-1000
Bella Rosa's salon carries everything for the wedding party, from bridal gowns and tuxedos to mother-of-the-bride and flower-girl dresses. "We become a friend to the bride for however long their process takes," says Manager Christine Podlesny. Bella Rosa separates the salon from the main shop to make the experience as quiet and stress-free as possible.
2. Tiffanys Bridal
3. Bridal Elegance
Best Women's Boutique
Pink
3158 W. Cary St., 358-0884
This Carytown shop, co-owned by Libby Sykes and Deborah Boschen, has been cultivating a fun, welcoming atmosphere for more than 25 years. The owners attribute the ambiance to the passionate staff. "If you don't have a happy staff, you won't have a happy store," says Sykes. Pink was recently chosen by Elle magazine as Virginia's entry in its "50 States of Shopping" feature.
2. Monkee's of Richmond
3. (Tie) Clementine; Penelope
Best Style Inspiration From In-store Mannequins
Pink
3158 W. Cary St., 358-0884
"We want to tell a story," says Jaime Ridolphi, principal mannequin dresser at Pink. The Carytown boutique uses the best of the best from its stock to outfit the life-sized dolls. "We trust our intuition, and hopefully we inspire customers to think outside of the box," Ridolphi says.
2. Bygones
3. Saks Fifth Avenue
Store That Treats Its Customers Like VIPs
Nordstrom
11812 W. Broad St., 364-6900
For more than nine years, this Short Pump department store has been pampering loyal customers. "We have events that close the store to anyone but Nordstrom Rewards card owners, complete with a live band and refreshments," says Manager Janessa Wentworth. Top-tier cardholders also have access to unlimited alterations. Nothing like a tailored wardrobe to make you feel like a VIP.
2. Saks Fifth Avenue
3. (Tie) Capri Jewelers; Tweed
Best Hair Colorist
MaryJo Myers-Battiston, Imago
2602 W. Main St., 355-1040
Imago owner Myers-Battiston is certified by the American Board of Certified Haircolorists (she even passed the exam on her first try, a rare feat) and has continued to seek training and education throughout her 24 years in the craft. "A lot of color is perception, so 99 percent of it is figuring out what the person perceives," she says.
2. Jennifer Mantura
3. Amber Skrzypek, Rituals Salon-Spa
Best Day Spa
Glow Med Spa
5109 Lakeside Ave. 262-0330; 201 Towne Center West Blvd., Suite 705, 360-1144
Owner Shia Noth says her theater background helped her create the atmosphere for the spas. "I like it when people have to leave their world and enter ours; it removes them from the stress of the day," says Noth. Each location is designed around an elemental theme: earth in Lakeside and fire in Short Pump, achieved with lighting and other tricks.
2. Elizabeth Arden Red Door Day Spa & Hair Salon
3. Club West Med Spa
Best Bike Shop
Agee's Bicycles
Visit agees.com for locations.
Agee's has been serving Richmonders for more than 100 years. Whether it's the catchy jingle on the commercials or the family environment of the stores, Agee's has consistently been a go-to shop for both novice and experienced cyclists. "We really just enjoy the bikes, the technology and watching it all advance," says owner Bill Agee.
2. Carytown Bicycle Co.
3. Conte's Bicycle & Fitness Equipment
Locally Owned Store With the Best Tableware Selection
Fraîche
304 Libbie Ave., 282-4282
For four years, Fraîche has stocked tableware with more flair and interest than the typical stuffy fine china. "We try to fit into a transitional and casual category," says manager Robyn Framme. Many modern brides, Fraîche's No. 1 purchaser of tableware, want sets that work for casual entertaining but can be dressed up, Framme says. Fraîche keeps its selection fresh, keeping on top of trends and stocking brands like Juliska, Match and Beatriz Ball.
2. Tweed
3. J. Taylor Hogan
Local Shop With the Best Selection of Things You Didn't Know You Needed (But Now You Do)
Mongrel
2924 W. Cary St., 342-1272
Greeting cards have been a mainstay at Mongrel during its 21 years, but some of its stock can be a bit more … compelling. "Guys come in with their girlfriends and are like, ‘Ugh, I don't want to shop,' and then get sidetracked by some of our stuff," says owner Stan McCulloch. Items we didn't know we needed on a recent visit: a Buddha butter dish, an on-the-go tea-brewing thermos and a samurai sword-shaped umbrella.
2. Tweed
3. The Shops at 5807
Best Local Etsy Business
D is for Dino
Matt Cheadle's interest in graphic design started when he was in middle school, and from there he says it just stuck with him. Initially selling to friends and family members who were interested in his designs, Cheadle's business began to grow into an online shop offering custom prints, posters and typography designs.
2. (Tie) Burlap+Blue; Love Elaine; Sweet Cheeks
3. Modern June
Best Locally Owned Shop for Kids' Clothes
Buttons and Bows
1517 N. Parham Road, 285-0482
With nearly 5,000 square feet of retail space, this Parham Road store near Regency Square offers classic children's clothing that covers every occasion, including christenings, weddings, dances and more. The broad selection of toys and dolls makes it an easy birthday-shopping option as well.
2. Clover
3. Once Upon a Child
Best Thrift Shop
Goodwill
Visit goodwillvirginia.org for locations.
The Goodwill shops, which sell used clothing, furniture and many other necessities, is opening two more outlets in a few months, says spokesperson Ellen Thornhill. The first store in Goochland County will be in Centerville, and another shop in Woodlake is set to open by the end of the year. Revenue from the stores goes toward more than 20 job training programs, which teach retail skills and more, Thornhill says.
2. Diversity Thrift
3. Fan Tastic Thrift
Best Locally Owned Maternity Shop
Hip to Be Round
3124 W. Cary St., 340-1700
"We get customers walking in all the time who have no idea our store is maternity," says Hip to Be Round owner Christa Donohue. "It doesn't scream ‘Look! I'm pregnant, and these are my pregnant clothes!' " The Cary Street boutique merges on-trend styling with comfortable, flattering clothing to outfit Richmond's mothers-to-be. "We love helping women feel great about their pregnant bodies."
2. eMommie.com
Best Locally Owned Stationery Store
By Invitation Only
4017 Lauderdale Dr., 364-8474
"I think there's been a resurgence in the popularity of paper and design, especially with the rise of Etsy and Pinterest," says owner Kerrie DiStanlo, who took over the store a year ago. DiStanlo says that many Richmonders also are buying papers for use with vintage letterpress machines. By Invitation Only also offers custom design and printing for wedding invitations.
2. Mongrel
3. Paper on the Avenue
Best Homegrown Company That Still Exists
The Martin Agency
One Shockoe Plaza, 698-8000
The Martin Agency, founded in 1965, made unlikely advertising icons of a guy with a white board, a talking gecko and a sensitive caveman. Martin President Mike Hughes says, "I love seeing in print that we still exist." He explains, "We still want to show the big-city guys that we'll meet them head-on, anytime, anywhere. That's part of our DNA."
2. (Tie) Sauer's; Ukrop's Homestyle Foods
3. CarMax
Locally Owned Store With the Best Costume Jewelry
Penelope
Visit penelope-jewelry.com for locations
Owner Penelope Sercy considers costume jewelry a natural fit to accessorize her boutique clothing. During Penelope's more than 20 years, Sercy has sought to offer jewelry as unique as the clothing sold in the shops, the newest collections layered with various charms and colors.
2. Bygones
3. She Chester
Best Car Wash
Car Pool
Visit carpool-llc.com for locations.
Car Pool, which began in 1977, now offers roughly 19 different car cleaning services ranging from mold and odor removal to plastic bumper repair and interior car detailing.
2. Dave's Auto Spa
3. Flagstop
Best Jewelry Repair Service
Vera's Fine Jewelers
16701 Midlothian Turnpike, Midlothian, 794-5671
Do the math, and you'll soon figure out that the two full-time jewelers at Vera's Fine Jewelers have very busy hands. According to Vera Caniglia, who co-owns the shop with husband Mike, her business repairs about 600 pieces of jewelry per month — meaning an average of about 10 repairs per workday for each of those jewelers.
2. Adolf Jewelers
3. Capri Jewelers
Best Locally Owned Shop for Birthday Gifts for Men
Mongrel
2924 W. Cary St., 342-1272
Owner Stan McCulloch noticed that his customers had a difficult time picking out gifts for husbands, fathers, boyfriends and brothers, so he dedicated a section of Mongrel to gifts for men. "We didn't want to do the typical stuff … it had to be really cool," says McCulloch. Between wall-mounted bear-head bottle openers and whiskey stones (used as ice cubes that won't melt or water down your drink), any man on your list should be satisfied.
2. Capri Jewelers
3. Peter-Blair
Best Watch Repair Service
Capri Jewelers
11525 W. Broad St., 364-6000; 10069 Brook Road, Glen Allen, 553-1444
If the passage of time has finally taken its toll on that device on your wrist, Capri Jewelers has been getting watches back up and running and people back on time for 30 years. "We offer the best warranty and best service on the watch," says Katherine Woo, manager of the West Broad Street location.
2. Cowardin's Jewelers
3. (Tie) Adolf Jewelers; Schwarzschild Jewelers
Best Locally Owned Place to Buy a Fancy Dress
Lex's of Carytown
3020 W. Cary St., 355-5425
From proms to weddings, seasonal formal events keep this dress shop buzzing most of the year. But things are about to get busier this fall, says owner Lisa McSherry, when Lex's doubles its space to more than 5,000 square feet, allowing for new lines that cater to "after-5" occasions and the mother of the bride. "It's really a niche that's needed in Richmond badly," McSherry says.
2. Levys
3. Bygones
Best Antique/Vintage Furniture Selection
West End Antiques Mall
2004 Staples Mill Road, 359-1600
With more than 250 booths and 53,000 square feet, West End Antiques Mall probably has what you're looking for in home décor, even if you don't know what that may be. The store offers a wide range of antiques, from jewelry and glassware to furniture and fine art and other vintage home goods.
2. Alexander's Antiques and Auctions
3. Gates Antiques
Best Place to Buy a Suit
Franco's Fine Clothier
Short Pump Town Center, 254-0950; 5321 Lakeside Ave., 264-2994
In its 40 years in business, Franco's Fine Clothier has dressed men of all stripes, including CEOs who have been referred to the store for a serious makeover by someone in their office. "They have gone from clothes they have been wearing for 10 years to becoming fashion gurus," says Mark Ambrogi, son of founder Franco.
2. JoS. A. Bank Clothiers
3. Men's Wearhouse
Best Locally Owned Place to Buy Your Boyfriend or Husband Clothes
Franco's Fine Clothier
Short Pump Towne Center, 254-0950; 5321 Lakeside Ave., 264-2994
Perhaps best known as the store that got Dad to stop wearing loafers every day of the week, Franco's Fine Clothier "covers the whole range when it comes to men's clothes," Mark Ambrogi says. Ambrogi credits the store's fine reputation to its experienced salespeople. They may wear bow ties, he says, but they're experts in trend-setting fashion.
2. Peter-Blair
3. Need Supply Co.
Best Local Store Sale of the Year
Tweed
4035 Lauderdale Drive, 249-3900
Nearly 1,000 shoppers descended on Tweed during each of the three annual sales the store hosts. This year, co-owner Kate Stottlemyer expects that number to grow, especially since merchandise is 15 percent to 50 percent off and the more money shoppers spend, the more giveaway gifts they get. "It is an organized chaos," she says.
2. Saxon Shoes
3. Capri Jewelers
Best Hair Extensions
Bombshell
10 S. Crenshaw Ave., 342-0051
"She has always been in the salon industry, and she's a Master Esthetician," says employee Annelies Heilinger of Bombshell's owner, Melissa Black. As a full service-salon, Bombshell offers skin care, waxing, hair and nail services, and airbrush tanning. Black's business is also known for its appreciation of pinup girl culture.
2. (Tie) Design One Hair Salon & Day Spa; Nesbit; Rituals Salon-Spa
Best Corporate Citizen
Ukrop
The former grocery is part of Richmond's commercial and cultural history, but the name still serves as a Richmond seal of approval. Dominion Virginia's philanthropy extends from education partnership grants to the Richmond Folk Festival. Capital One, Richmond's largest private employer, is active in education, environmental sustainability and nonprofit partnerships, including work with FeedMore and the Richmond Better Housing Coalition.
2. Dominion
3. Capital One
Best Computer Repair
Avec Computers
1903 Manakin Road, Suite E, Manakin-Sabot, 657-7750
Avec is a small company with only three employees, but they give their work the personal touch, specializing in speeding up old computers. Co-founder Ben Jenkins says the most stressful repair he has encountered was when an accounting firm's bookkeeping program — with all of the clients' information — self-destructed. Avec was able to recover the info, fortunately.
2. Best Buy/Geek Squad
3. (Tie) Apple Store; CapitolMac; Cloud Computers
Best Carpet Cleaning
Chem-Dry of Richmond
620-3050, chem-dry.net/richmond.va
Cleaning with an environmental conscience is the motto of Chem-Dry of Richmond, which cleans with a green-certified cleaning solution. The 18-year-old independently owned franchise specializes in "cleaning what the customers can and can't see, like allergens," office manager Darin Franck says. "We've become the evangelist of carpet cleaning. We clean for people's health."
2. Stanley Steemer
3. On the Spot
Best Place for Unusual Garden Ornaments
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Gift Shop
1800 Lakeside Ave., 262-9887
Lewis Ginter's gift shop has been offering a unique selection of indoor and outdoor garden ornaments for the past 21 years. In addition to its selection of high-quality and reasonably priced items, the shop boasts an exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable staff. As store manager Martha Anne Ellis says, "People who dig in the dirt are nice people."
2. Strange's
3. Great Big Greenhouse
Best Locally Owned Shop for Birthday Gifts for Women
Tweed
4035 Lauderdale Drive, 249-3900
If you're a retail-challenged husband on a gift hunt for your better half, you may be in luck. Tweed's staff can do a little detective work and help you sniff out the perfect gift, says owner Kate Stottlemyer. In addition to checking store records for previous purchases, "we'll ask questions and figure out what special interests his wife has," she says.
2. Mongrel
3. Capri Jewelers
Best Shoe Selection
Saxon Shoes
Short Pump Town Center, 285-3473
"History has taught us very well," says Saxon owner Gary Weiner. Indeed, after 59 years in Richmond, Saxon has come to truly understand its customers. Its buyers work hard to follow trends and find exactly what consumers want. Saxon's recently remodeled Short Pump store has something for everyone, offering more than 200 brands for men, women and children.
2. Nordstrom
3. Saks Fifth Avenue
Best Selection of Organic Produce
Whole Foods Market
11173 W. Broad St., 364-4050
"I think organic food gives people a piece of mind that there's integrity behind what you're eating," says David Winder, assistant manager at Whole Foods. The store brings organic produce from around the world to Richmond and hosts a farmers' market between 4 and 7 p.m. every Thursday during the summer so that Richmonders can sample the local stuff.
2. Ellwood Thompson's Local Market
3. Fresh Market
Best Fine Jewelry Store
Schwarzschild Jewelers
Visit schwarzschild.com for locations.
Those hunting for fine jewelry and accessories from engagement rings to watches have culminated their searches at Schwarzschild's since 1897. "We are family-owned … not some CEO that is coming from some other fashion business to run some other big business," says Sam Spaulding, manager of the Short Pump location. Stores are also in Carytown and Alverser Plaza.
2. Capri Jewelers
3. (Tie) Adolf Jewelers; Vera's Fine Jewelers
Best Gutter Cleaning
Mind in the Gutter
1811 Huguenot Road, Building B, Suite 208, 378-3246
The best part of owning Mind in the Gutter, says owner Ethan Powers, "is meeting all of the people and interacting with our customers." The gutter cleaning company offers a number of other gutter- and home-related services in addition to cleaning, including installation, repairs, polishing and pressure washing.
2. All About Gutters
Best Sedation Dentistry
Midlothian Family Dentistry
14420 Sommerville Court, Midlothian, 897-7900
Drs. Robert Sorenson and William Monacell of Midlothian Family Dentistry emphasize oral health and prioritize patient comfort, particularly for those who experience dental anxiety. For everything from regular dental visits to dental implants, cosmetic dentistry and dentures, the practice offers a range of sedation options using state-of-the-art equipment to ensure that patients receive top-notch, stress-free care.
2. Drs. White & White
3. (Tie) Dr. Scott Gore, Midlothian Dental Center; Dr. Baxter Perkinson & Associates
Best Doggie Daycare
Petite Pet Inn & Spa
3010 Hilliard Road, 622-1556
Petite Pet Inn & Spa understands that small dogs need special care (and deserve to be pampered). The inn, which opened in 2006, offers daycare, grooming and overnight care for small pets, and features a landscaped backyard with real grass and small dog-friendly chairs, beds and sofas. "It's as much like a home as we can make it," says owner Donna Anderson.
2. Holiday Barn Pet Resorts
3. Diamond Dog House
Best Place to Have Alterations Done
George's Alteration Shop
1344 Gaskins Road, 741-0992
After 54 years in the business, George Livaniou can mend almost anything. His shop on Gaskins Road is equipped with a handful of expert seamstresses ready to tailor your clothing and help you get the perfect fit in no time. And on the rare occasion it's not perfect, Livaniou will re-alter it until it is.
2. Natale Alterations Express
3. Patti P Tailors
Best Supermarket
Kroger
Visit kroger.com for locations.
"We've learned a lot since we came to the market in 2000," says Carl York, Kroger's public affairs manager. "We've been listening to the customers and giving them what they've asked for." That includes placing chefs in stores to cook prepared foods, working with local farmers and growers, transporting customers' groceries to their cars for them, and remodeling stores across Richmond to expand offerings.
2. Whole Foods Market
3. Martin's
Best Business Accounting Firm
Keiter/Keiter Stephens
273-6200
Coleen Moore of Keiter says, "We are more than accountants — we are opportunity advisors. We take the time to truly learn about our clients." She says that Keiter identifies strategies and opportunities that work for how clients run their businesses today and where they want them to go tomorrow.
2. Mitchell, Wiggins & Company
3. (Tie) Carlson Woo & Company; Wells, Coleman & Company; Witt Mares
Best Locally Owned Lingerie Shop
Blythe
11713 W. Broad St., 364-1717
Blythe has been working for seven years to get its customers into perfectly fitting intimates. "A lot of people are surprised to find out what size they actually are," says Manager Anna Handres. "It's a life-changing experience to wear a bra that fits." The small boutique has a wide-ranging selection, including cup sizes from A to K.
2. Kiss & Make-up
3. Taboo
Local Business Offering the Best Benefits
Capital One
15000 Capital One Drive, 967-1000
Since 1988, Capital One has been providing employees with benefits ranging from on-site fitness centers to continuing education. Other benefits: paid time off to volunteer, incentives for taking healthy actions and flexible work arrangements. Full- and part-time associates are offered comprehensive medical coverage that includes benefits for families caring for children with autism. The company also encourages employees to continue training through Capital One University and the Career Development Center.
2. Altria
Best Local Entrepreneur
Chris DeCapri, Capri Jewelers
11525 W. Broad St., 364-6000; 10069 Brook Road, Glen Allen, 553-1444
"It all starts with trust," says Richmond native Chris DeCapri, owner and CEO of Capri Jewelers. "People start to trust you, and they tell their friends, and you just build up that way." DeCapri opened his first store in Mechanicsville in 1983 and has been expanding the business since then, turning a small jewelry store into a "local company with a global presence."
2. Michael Bor, CarLotz
3. Jake Crocker
Most Innovative Creative Mind in Town
Various staff at The Martin Agency
"This is a nice change for us," says Martin President Mike Hughes, "usually people tell us we're out of our minds." He adds, "There isn't one mind here: There are 600, each with its own special weirdness, each making the others better. [Chairman and CEO] John Adams and I are privileged to come to work every day with this amazing crew from around the world."
2. Ed Trask, muralist
3. (Tie) Andy Stefanovich, chief provacateur with Prophet; Noah Scalin, Skull-A-Day artist
Best Yard Maintenance Service
Virginia Green Lawn Care Company
285-6200, virginiagreenlawncare.com
After working for a time in the golf course business, Gil Grattan decided to start his own company. Virginia Green Lawn Care Company began in 2004, and has since expanded from four to 38 employees. "We provide personal service on a lawn-by-lawn basis," says Grattan. "It has a Richmond feel and a Richmond flavor."
2. (Tie) Cross Creek Nursery & Landscaping; TruGreen
3. (Tie) Cartwright Landscaping; James River Grounds Management; Norris Services; Tuckahoe Landscaping
Best Vacuum Cleaner Repair
Willett Vacuum
8422 W. Broad St., 270-1714
Priding itself on offering cleaning solutions for every budget, Willett Vacuum has 35 different models of vacuum in stock and extends warranties to two years no matter the cost of the vacuum. The family business, now in its third generation, started off going door to door in 1946, and is able to repair most vacuum brands.
2. All Brands Service Center
3. Vac City
Best Housekeeping Service
Molly Maid
8132 Forest Hill Ave., 327-3878
Servicing around 1,000 homes in the Greater Richmond area, the Molly Maids are pretty busy. In business since 1995, the company has earned a solid reputation among Richmond homeowners in need of housekeeping help. "Our No. 1 goal is, as cheesy as it sounds, keeping customers happy," says owner Clint Graviet.
2. The Maids
3. Cleaning by Carolyn
Best New Locally Owned Business
CarLotz
11944 Midlothian Turnpike, 897-2757
CarLotz is a consignment service for used cars, where the buyers don't have to meet the sellers and the sellers don't have to meet the buyers. For a fee, CarLotz prepares cars for sale and manages the sales process, and sellers collect a check once their car has been sold. "We noticed that the private-sale market for vehicles is a large part of the car market but is underserved," says CEO Michael Bor.
2. (Tie) Commonwealth Clothiers; Glow Med Spa
3. Mom's Treehouse
Best Local Summer Job
Kings Dominion
16000 Theme Park Way, Doswell, 876-5000
Employing 4,000 seasonal employees a year — 20 percent being 17 years old or younger — Kings Dominion promises a summer job with a lively mix of activities. Perks include free picnics, employee parties, ride nights and trips to sightseeing destinations. "Our motto is safety, family fun, thrills and excitement," says Gene Petriello, communications manager.
2. YMCA (camps, lifeguard, Camp Thunderbird)
3. Camp counselor with Passages Adventure Cam p
Local Business Making the Best Use of Social Media
The Hardwicke Group
4914 Fitzhugh Ave., Suite 101, 308-1956
Jason Yu, managing partner and client solutions manager at The Hardwicke Group, says the firm's first client had a major PR issue. "He had been slammed on blogs, YouTube and even had personal attacks," says Yu. Using social media, the client was able to reverse the situation completely.
2. (Tie) CarLotz; Club West Med Spa; F.W. Sullivan's
3. (Tie) 2113; The Republic
25th Anniversary | Newsmakers and Media | Community/Arts/Sports
