NFIB/Dell Small Business Excellence in Customer Experience Award
Dell and NFIB Honor the Nation's Most Innovative Small and Mid-Size Businesses
for the 2009 Dell/NFIB SMALL BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD
Dell and NFIB announced the 10 U.S. finalists for the sixth annual Dell/NFIB
Small Business Excellence Award. Founded in 2004 by Dell and NFIB, the award
recognizes companies using technology to better serve customers and grow their businesses.
Selected by MBA students at George Washington University School of Business from a record
3,000 applications, U.S. finalists receive a Dell business-class laptop, one-year NFIB
membership, and go on to compete for the national award.
This year’s U.S. finalists represent diverse industries, size and revenues, ranging
from medical practices to an online forensic training company, from one employee to 55,
and revenues from a breakeven start-up to $15M. The U.S. 2009 Dell/NFIB Small Business
Excellence Award finalists include:
Acadia Foot & Ankle,P.A., Bangor, ME, is a three-physician foot and ankle medical and surgical treatment center using advanced three-dimensional scanners, digital x-rays and a Web-based answering service to provide high-quality patient care, speed transfer of information and cut costs.
In an industry still using paper and pen to conduct inspections and inventory, American Wire Rope & Sling of Fort Wayne, IN, uses barcoding and RFID for more efficient inventory control and inspections, to better track repairs in cooperation with OSHA requirements, improve productivity and save money.
Known as the “e-harmony of tutoring,” Appleton Learning, Madison, AL, specializes in tutoring and test prep services, distinguishing itself by matching students and tutors based on the human elements of education. They credit their unique software as essential in providing this innovative service.
Bellingham Internal Medicine, Bellingham, WA, leverages a custom-designed computerized medical office system, integrating electronic medical records, all aspects of business operations and communications to streamline operations. Through its use of technology, the four- provider practice is able to provide high-quality primary care internal medicine to Medicare recipients at Medicare rates, schedule an average of 30 minutes per patient visit, and earn near the median income for primary care providers in the area.
Much like the software-as-a-service model, BusinesSuites of Austin, TX, offers clients subscription-based office space and services to free them of the burden of traditional long-term leases. BusinesSuites credits their investments in IT and people with saving the company and enabling them to deliver a superior customer experience.
Forensic Training Network, San Francisco, CA, provides online and onsite collaborative training services to crime lab employees, law enforcement and attorneys on forensic science-related topics. Innovators of the ForensicHub, an online resource that connects the forensic community and the first in its industry to create online and self-paced training modules, the company is helping clients address budget shortfalls and travel restrictions without sacrificing competency.
Geo-Source, Inc., Florence, AL, performs environmental assessment services for large timberland acquisitions being considered by institutional investors. Using a GIS-enhanced database application for aerial reconnaissance from helicopters, Geo-Source is able to deliver faster, more thorough results of remote areas difficult to reach by ground.
Specializing in immersive applications for the web, GroundWork Design, Richmond, VA, helps clients like The Julliard School and the University of Miami bring their campuses and experiences to life via rich multi-media.
Interactive Marketing, Warrenton, VA, maker of the web-based Welcome Back Rewards customer loyalty solution, offers small companies an affordable, cross-marketing loyalty program for capturing repeat business called City Masterkey. The Masterkey links merchant groups together in a loyalty coalition and brands the merchant group while giving the consumer one card that rewards them everywhere they shop or dine.
Vitals, Lyndhurst, N.J., is an online doctor evaluation and comparison service that helps patients identify the right doctor for them. With more than 720,000 physicians nationwide and a daily user base of 100,000 and growing, Vitals’ flexible database and web-user interface helped the company secure a number of key partnerships with major insurers and health providers.
The ten finalists will compete to Win $25,000 in Dell technology and consulting time with
Michael Dell, plus a life-time membership to NFIB.
In 2008, the winner was Transport Designs, a Montoursville, Pa., business specializing in the manufacturing of custom trailers and motor homes.
For a complete information on this award program, visit www.dell.com/ceaward. The grand prize winner will be announced in September 2009.