Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber Names Small Business Award Winners

by: Paul Quirini

The Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber’s Small Business Council will present this year’s Small Business Awards at the Desmond Hotel & Conference Center in Albany on Wednesday, April 21 during a Special Breakfast Forum with best-selling author Rich Gallagher.

The Chamber’s Small Business Council will recognize two small businesses for business success. The Small Business Awards breakfast is the culmination of a process that began in February, when nominations were accepted.

Fenimore Asset Management is the corporate sponsor of the Small Business Awards. The event begins with check-in at 7:30am, followed by breakfast at 8am and the awards presentation and keynote speaker. Registration is $25, and the event is open to the public. To register, visit http://acchamber.org/events.aspx.

Small business Award categories and award recipients include:

Small Business of the Year Award
Complexions Spa for Beauty & Wellness

Complexions Spa for Beauty & Wellness is committed to making its clients not only look, but also feel, their best by focusing on their health, as well as the traditional “pampering” aspects for which spas are generally known.

The spa is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council and is the first Gold LEED certified spa in the country for new construction. Due to owner Denise DuBois’ substantial energy reductions, the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) awarded Complexions with a bronze plaque and $31,000 in grant funding.

DuBois has adapted Complexions’ business plan and philosophy over the years, evolving from the luxury-only mindset to a strong emphasis on health benefits, wellness and de-stressing. Today, the spa’s business continues to prosper, with double-digit growth annually.

Complexions recently partnered with MatterofTrust.org, a charitable organization that has lived the mission of linking ideas and sparking action to improve the environment. This new partnership will specifically assist MatterofTrust.org in making oil spill hair mats from salon hair clippings.

The spa was recently named a “Salon of Distinction” by Salon Today Magazine and was one of 13 recipients of the Energy STAR Small Business Award in 2008. DuBois and her staff have also embraced social networking, using Twitter to “tweet” about last-minute appointment openings that may have otherwise gone unfilled, providing clients the opportunity to enjoy service almost immediately, if they so desire.

“It is an honor to be named Small Business of the Year, as this is a testament to all of the wonderful people who work here and our loyal clients,” DuBois said. “We’ve worked very hard to grow our business over the past 22 years, and I’m grateful to receive local recognition for our accomplishments.”