J&R Tacos, ServiceMaster, Mercy Medical Center honored as businesses of the year

Three Merced County businesses were honored during Tuesday's Merced Success Breakfast. J&R Tacos, ServiceMaster and Mercy Medical Center Merced were named businesses of the year during the 11th annual event, which was organized by the City of Merced Economic Development Advisory Committee.

Speaking at the breakfast was Kurt Clark, director of the Alliance Small Business Development Center, and Tom Price, publisher of The D Magazine and organizer of Downtown Merced's SummerFest.

Janna Rodriguez and Oscar Torres, both college students, own the popular Mexican eatery in Downtown Merced. J&R Tacos was cited by the committee for using fresh ingredients and providing a healthy menu.

ServiceMaster, a $2-million-a-year cleaning company owned by Jack Mobley, employs more than 100 people in a three-county area, the city said. The company's efforts to help Southeast Asian refugees were noted in a press release; in the past two decades, ServiceMaster has employed more than 1,500 Southeast Asians. The company also supports nonprofits like the Boys & Girls Club and an orphanage in Kenya.

Mercy Medical Center Merced recently opened a new hospital in North Merced, providing a number of jobs during construction and more when the facility opened. Mercy offers its 1,200 employees free medical insurance, educational reimbursement and competitive salaries, the committee noted.