Chamber names finalists for W. Curtis Strube Small Business Award

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce has named five local businesses as finalists for its annual W. Curtis Strube Small Business Award.

The finalists are:

• DeLong Plumbing, Heating & Air;
• Midwest Metro;
• Old Missouri Bank;
• Pension Consultants Inc.; and
• Rick's Automotive Inc.

The winning company will be announced during a May 2 awards luncheon, according to a news release from the chamber.

The award is presented by the chamber's Small Business Council, and a winner is chosen based on written applications scored by an independent panel of judges. The application comprises written essays covering company history, business or management philosophy, response to challenges, innovative products or services, and community contributions.

Springfield-based nonprofit Ozarks Food Harvest was awarded the chamber's 2011 W. Curtis Strube Small Business Award.