Best & Worst 2011: Business

Best Local Financial Planner:

(Tie) Brian Ford of RBC Wealth Management; Michael Thompson of Mass Mutual Financial Group 225-1422; 290-8750 Certified Financial Planner Brian Ford and his team focus on big-picture planning. Ford can be heard weekly as the financial commentary host on WCVE public radio. Michael Thompson, a financial services professional, believes the biggest mistake most people make is trying to do their own financial planning. "Most folks allow emotion to guide their decision-making process," he says.

Best Local Entrepreneur Under 30:

Lindsay Averette of LK Events & Design 221-7257 Averette, who started her company in 2009, says designing weddings and events wasn't something she planned on doing. "I just knew I had a creative side to me." Still single, Averette plans on relaxing when it's time for her big day. "I will plan [the wedding], but I will not coordinate it," she says. 2. Jeff Strojny, New Balance Richmond 3. Trevor Dickerson, RVA MediaWorks

Best Local Tax-Accounting Firm:

Keiter Stephens kshgs.com Keiter Stephens Chief Operating Officer Julie Gustavsson says the firm is "passionate about finding creative solutions to our clients' challenges. What sets us apart is our fun firm culture that leverages technology, learning and community support in an otherwise structured profession." 2. (Tie) Biegler & Associates; Dixon Hughes Goodman 3. Wells, Coleman & Company

Best Local Etsy Business:

(Tie) Burlap + Blue ; Meg J. Roberts Jewelry ; Modern June ; Love Elaine Burlap + Blue owner Linda Smith says she came up with her vintage-inspired dessert pedestals (just one of her handcrafted items) after going to thrift stores. "I saw a lot of cool plates and brass candlesticks. I put the two together and came up with dessert pedestals." Meg Roberts' designs are inspired by her love for the American Museum of Natural History in New York. One customer was so taken with her bison design that she asked to duplicate it as a tattoo. "The [designs] are based on the tattoos I want but am too chicken to get," says Roberts. Modern June owner Kelly McCants started selling her oilcloth housewares at 17th Street Farmers' Market five years ago. Her business stems from her obsession with vintage aprons. Her 20-project book, Sewing with Oilcloth, is coming out this month on Amazon. Love Elaine owner Christen Barber's inspiration for sewing came from her mother and grandmother. Her relatives also inspired the company's name. All the women in her family have the middle name of Elaine, and Love is her grandmother's maiden name.

Best New Business in Richmond:

Glow Med Spa 5109 Lakeside Ave., 262-0330 Owner Shia Noth says her spa is best known for its "painless Brazilian bikini waxes." She created the spa with a woodland setting: "We have you feel like you have entered a new land, that you've left your world behind." 2. (Tie) Mom's Treehouse; SweetFrog

Best Local Social-Media Company:

Tumblr tumblr.com The New York-based company's site has more than 25 million blogs and almost 32 million posts per day. "We are an easy way to blog and effortlessly share anything," says Marc LaFountain, the company's Richmond-based vice president of community support. 2. The Martin Agency 3. The Hardwicke Group

Savviest Local CEO:

Shawn Boyer of Snagajob snagajob.com "It would be interesting to see what people would say if you interviewed the folks I work with on a regular basis to see if they have the same feedback," jokes Boyer. "One of the things I have done is to hire really good people. I work hard on the culture to give them a place to thrive." 2. Christopher Decapri, Capri Jewelers 3. (Tie) Michael Frazier, Genworth Financial; Michael Szymanczyk, Altria

Local Company Offering the Best Benefits:

Capital One capitalone.com Capital One benefits include everything from inexpensive on-site fitness centers and zero co-pay, on-site health centers to flexible work arrangements and paid time off to volunteer. Both full- and part-time associates are offered comprehensive medical coverage, and the company provides training and development through Capital One University and the Career Development Center. 2. Altria 3. The Martin Agency

Locally Owned Business That Gives the Most Back to the Community:

Ukrop's ukropshomestylefoods.com "There are so many people that do so much more than we do," says Robert Ukrop, president and CEO of Ukrop's Homestyle Foods, sponsor of the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K. Ukrop, who also serves as president of SportsBackers, believes in promoting fitness. "We want to help make Richmond the most physically active region in the country," he says. 2. Midas of Richmond 3. (Tie) Altria; Ellwood Thompson's

Best Office Space in Richmond:

The Martin Agency martinagency.com Chief Creative Officer John Norman oversaw the agency's 30,000-square-foot creative-space renovation, which tips its hat to collaboration. The second floor has a new "surround the work" style, featuring an open layout and glass walls. The design won the Best Interior Project Award from the Greater Richmond Association for Commercial Real Estate. 2. Innsbrook 3. Mead WestVaco

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