Ride the Ducks named top small busienss for year

Ride the Ducks has been named the Small Business of the Year by the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau. The annual awards ceremony was held June 4.

The businesses were nominated by members of the Branson/Lakes community and were judged on their excellence in the areas of staying power, business or management philosophy, response to adversity, innovative products or services and community oriented contributions.

"We are pleased to award Ride the Ducks with the Small Business of the Year," said Jeff Justus, vice chair, Small Business Development Advisory Council and owner of L & J Plumbing Supply. "Throughout the years, Ride the Ducks has set a tremendous example of the importance of creating innovative products and services to keep guests coming back. Over the years, Ride the Ducks has invented the Wacky Quaker,' added the Christmas light tour and created the military museum."

Jim Langham, chairman of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce/CVB Board of Directors and owner of Thunder Road, added, "We applaud all of this year's nominees for their commitment to excellence. The entire Branson business community is proud of the achievements shown by all the nominees."

The award was presented at the Fourth Annual Small Business of the Year Dinner and Award Ceremony, June 4 at Buckingham's Restaurant and Oasis Lounge. Nationally renowned keynote speaker, Rick Segel, used the metaphors of love and romance to illustrate how to build lifelong customer loyalty.

The nominees for this year's award were: Bath Junkie, Branson's Best, Branson Daily Independent, Branson Heart Center, Golden Corral, Hill Family Chiropractic, Image Works Inc., Mid America Hearing Center, Missouri Partners Inc., Naturegraphics, Paul's Printing, Ride the Ducks, Stone Hill Winery, Table Rock Asphalt, The Tracks and Vacation Channel.

Ride the Ducks has been in business for 31 years. It offers amphibious sightseeing tours of Branson and Table Rock Lake aboard renovated World War II military landing vessels.

Ride the Ducks supports numerous not-for-profit organizations including the Lake Country Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, TriLakes Community Theatre and the Conservation Federation of Missouri.