TLC Property Management named Small Business of the Year

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce today presented the 2009 W. Curtis Strube Small Business of the Year Award to TLC Property Management LLC.

An independent panel of judges selected TLC from five finalists. The others were: Heim, Young & Associates Inc.; JMark Business Solutions Inc.; Pearson-Kelly Office Products; and Sunbelt Environmental Services Inc. The award is given based on a company's staying power, response to adversity, innovative products or services, business philosophy and contributions to the community.

TLC was founded in 1988 by Sam E. and Carol Coryell and currently manages more than 2,600 apartment units built by sister company Coryell Enterprises in and around Springfield. Another 600 units are under construction.

The company employs 50 full-time - triple its employee numbers in 2002 - and caters to the city's 40,000 student population.

The annual Small Business of the Year Award is named for the late director of the Breech School of Business at Drury University, W. Curtis Strube, and has been given since 1992. Past honorees are: Pellham-Phillips Architects & Engineers, Family Pharmacy's Plainview Road location, Amberg Entertainment, Candy House Gourmet Chocolates, Millwood Golf & Racquet Club, PFI Western Store, Environmental Works, Carnahan-White, Aire-Master of America, ServiceWorld Computer Center, Butler, Rosenbury & Partners, Springfield Business Journal, Opfer Communications, Mears Floral Products, Watts Heatway, Big Cabin Wholesale Gifts and Terminal Consolidation Co.