Since 1986, the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Atlanta Business Chronicle have been honoring outstanding small business professionals from around metro Atlanta through the Small Business Person of the Year Awards. To be considered for the honor, nominees must have been in business a minimum of three years, have fewer than 100 employees and less than $40 million in annual revenues, be an active member in the community, be the primary or major shareholder of the business and be a member of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.
Small businesses are a critical sector. Of the more than 143,000 businesses in metro Atlanta, nearly 95 percent employ fewer than 50 people. Metro Atlanta had the highest entrepreneurial activity rate among the 15 largest metropolitan areas of the country last year, and Georgia led all states, according to a study from the University of California , Santa Cruz.
Allied Logistics was established in 2004 providing freight transportation, warehousing and import and export services. The company has primarily operated in the industrial machinery transport arena and is currently expanding into new markets. Under the leadership of Mr. Kirby the company has experienced year over year growth of 35%.
The 2009 Small Business Person of the Year and the other finalists will be named during Small Business Day at Chamber on May 21, 2009.
