The time is ticking to submit a vote for Excellence in Business awards.

Due Friday, your votes will help the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce determine three winners who have excelled in business this year.

The chamber is awarding three of their nine nominees in the Large Employer, Small Business and Young Professional categories. Continue reading to hear about them.

The CDCC is passionate about fulfilling its mission to be “the essential resource for the development of businesses in central Delaware,” and this peer-driven award ceremony is just one of the many ways it accomplishes this goal for the community.

With only a little over a month before the chamber’s annual Awards for Excellence Celebration on June 28, we are busy organizing this event to be a star-studded moment to remember forever — but need your help by casting your vote for excellence.

The celebration is the culminating event of the nonprofit’s fiscal year and is important to the central Delaware business community because the votes come from people like you — business professional peers. The group needs your help in recognizing nominees for their achievements throughout the year. The winners will be determined by fellow chamber members and presented at the event June 28 at Bally’s Dover, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The deadline to submit your votes is Friday.

Here are the chamber’s 2023 Excellence in Business nominees in the Large Employer category:

• Bally’s Dover — formerly Dover Downs — is a hotel, casino and entertainment complex with multiple dining options, a special event venue and more.
• The Kraft Heinz Co. is a Dover manufacturer of the all Stove Top, Shake ‘n Bake, Baker’s coconut and Jell-O products and almost all of the Crystal Light, Kool-Aid and Tang products. Its mission is “to be the best food company, growing a better world.”
• Polytech Adult Education offers adult basic, secondary and postsecondary workforce development programs in construction and mechanical trades, health care professions, IT, operations and leadership. Its goal is to “strengthen the workforce and our community.”

In the Small Business category:

• Ice House: Wellness + Community is a Wyoming facility that offers wellness classes and life and nutritional coaching, as well as special events/workshops. Its mission is to “empower the community to prioritize their overall health, including mental, emotional, physical, spiritual and social wellness.”
• Pressley Ridge is a nonprofit providing individuals and families with hope and support through life’s challenges via collaborative and inclusive relationships. It empowers children and families to transform their lives and develop their full potential.
• Sambo’s Tavern is a 70-year local seafood staple and tavern on a mission “to provide the best seafood in the region by consistently doing things the way they should be done — the right way.”

In the Young Professional category are Lauren Webb, director of operations for Dedicated to Women OB/GYN; Stephen Burgess, the Emergency Operations Center manager for Fireside Partners; and Ryne Johnson, an account manager for Advantech.

Voters, please take into consideration the growth of the individual/company, their responses to trials and tribulations, and their involvement with their local community. These are pillars of strong leadership that must not be forgotten. It means so much to the chamber’s nominees to receive votes from their local business peers.

The CDCC thanks you for your time and support for our nominees. We cannot wait to celebrate with the community at the 2023 Awards for Excellence Celebration on June 28.

Our business members are invited to cast their votes through surveymonkey.com/r/cdccawards2023. Remember: Only chamber members are eligible to vote, and only one vote is allotted per business. The deadline to vote is Friday.

Upcoming events:

• May 31 — Sunset Business Mixer at King Cole Farm, Dover, 5-7 p.m.
• June 1 — Kent County “Open for Business” event at Kent County Levy Court, Room 203, Dover, 8:30-10 a.m.
• June 8 — Member orientation via Zoom, 8:30-10 a.m.