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THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2012
REAL ESTATE Three-bedroom Longboat Shores home sells for $950,000.
AWARDS
WEATHER
LLSA Chamber honors area small businesses.
See this week’s weather photo contest winner.
PAGE 24A
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2012 Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key Chamber of Commerce
Small Business of the Year Awards {10 EMPLOYEES OR FEWER WINNER}
by Mallory Gnaegy | Community Editor
INSIDE
G. Fried Flooring
ROOKIE WINNER
Elite Family Care / page 17a
ROOKIE NOMINEES
Always Home / page 20a
Consider It Done / page 20a
Boost Studio / page 22A
10 OR FEWER EMPLOYEES NOMINEES Jack Dean, general manager of G. Fried Flooring, has it all (and the floor) covered. G. Fried Flooring has been located off of Tamiami Trail for 40 years. From this location it has provided the community with specialty tile, laminate, vinyl, hardwood and carpeting. Although the retail group has 500 stores nationwide, each store is locally owned. G. Fried provides flooring for residential and commercial businesses throughout Manatee and Sarasota counties.
when you got started in business? Probably to have gotten more involved in the bookkeeping and finances of the business more than the sales aspect, because the information I used to get from CPAs was about two months old. If I did it myself, I would have had instant information. Favorite way to spend a day off: Fishing.
Mallory Gnaegy
much what any manager would probably do. Business idol: Warren Buffett, because
he’s got his fingers in everything.
Where do you see your business in five years? With at least one more location.
Right now there are three locations in Florida. Number of employees when started: Two
Start date: 1972
Biggest challenge: Dealing with the economic depression … the amount of business and people buying flooring isn’t nearly what it was in 2005; the industry is down 60%.
First job ever: My first job, ever, was as a
Typical day on the job: I help my sales
boat Key Chamber is a (great one). It has been a pleasure being an ambassador for the chamber.
Location: 4608 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota;
servicing Manatee and Sarasota counties
dishwasher for Uncle Otey’s Starlight Restaurant and Pancake House/Truck Stop on Tamiami Trail in 1963.
What is something you wish you knew
staff figure out their jobs, look at their plans, go over their orders. I network in the community at different functions and (spend time) meeting people. I also do housekeeping around the store — pretty
Sunglass Express Optical / 18A
Number of employees today: Nine On winning 2012 Small Business of the Year, 10 employees or fewer: The Long-
Info: Call 315-6661, visit flooringamerica-
sarasota.com or follow Flooring America on Facebook for more information.
Siesta Sports Rentals / PAGE 18a
See page 24A for photos from the awards breakfast