PHOTOS: Beachwood Chamber Hosts Awards Luncheon

For the second consecutive year, the Beachwood Chamber of Commerce made an afternoon out of award presentations, recognizing businesses, people and organizations who have impacted the community throughout 2012.

Though the chamber gave six awards at its annual awards luncheon at the Hilton Cleveland East, Wayne Lawrence, the Chamber's executive director, wished there would have been more.

"For those of you who saw the nomination form, it stated that the Chamber was looking for nominees who go above and beyond what is required in the areas of accomplishments and civic involvement," Lawrence said.

"During the process, it became very evident — and I'm sure the mayor and city council would agree with this statement — that the City of Beachwood has an abundance of citizens and organizations that would fit those guidelines and do contribute to the wonderful quality of life in our great city."

Lawrence said that made the job tougher for the selection committee, which was comprised of Beachwood Community Services Director Karen Carmen, Beachwood Schools Director of Marketing & Development Doug Levin and Beachwood Library Manager Bill Kelly.

Here are some highlights from the event:

• TMW Systems won Business of the Year. The company began 30 years ago in the basement of chairman Tom Weisz, but now has offices in six other cities, including Dallas and Vancouver. Human Resources Director Laura Leili, who accepted the award on the company's behalf, said the firm was on pace to make $130 million in revenues this year. Lawrence said the company has added 85 new employees since 2011. 

• The Chamber named Montefiore the Civic Organization of the Year. "Montefiore receives this award because, in the selection committee's judgment, it is an organization which has shown outstanding civic commitment and social responsibility," Chamber Board member Shenise Thomas said during the introduction. The senior living community hosted several awareness programs that were free to the community, including the Senior Living Health Expo, a Health Care Speaker Series and the Dementia and Memory Loss education program.

• Vicky Hawke, executive director of the Northern Ohio Area Chambers of Commerce, attended the event to hand out a 2012 Beachwood Chamber Bright Star award to Mitch Slater, managing principal at Visible Innovations Marketing. Deborah Zelman Rapoport of the Beachwood Buzz won Citizen of the Year. Also, two nearby restaurants — Mitchell's Fish Market and Old Carolina Barbecue Co. — were presented with the Best Presentation and People's Choice awards from the recent Taste of Beachwood event.