Winners of Excellence in Business awards announced
Eight Merced County businesses and organizations and one individual are winners in the Merced Sun-Star’s second annual Excellence in Business competition.
Awards are presented in a variety of categories, including manufacturing, health care, charitable work, finance and real estate development. A distinguished panel of judges met in late July to choose the winners among dozens of nominations.
“The Merced Sun-Star is honored to shine a light on these exceptional organizations,” Ken Riddick, president and publisher of the Sun-Star, said. “The competition was really stiff, and it’s truly impressive to see the work that they are doing to make greater Merced and Merced County a better place.”
The categories and winners are:
▪ Retail/wholesale/general business: Big O Tires, Terry and Margaret Rossen
▪ Charitable/nonprofit: Italo-American Lodge, Robert Tomasetti
▪ Health care: Rascal Creek Physical Therapy, Dr. Tony Hernandez
▪ Professional services: Day Break Adult Day Health Care, Kim Cruz Marks
▪ Agribusiness: J. Marchini Farms, Jeff Marchini
▪ Small business: Tony’s Auto Repair, Tony Pedro
▪ Finance/banking/insurance – Special Judge’s Recognition: Fluetsch & Busby Insurance, Doug Fluetsch and Jeannie Fluetsch Bliss
▪ Real estate/development: Merced Yosemite Realty/Yosemite Property Management, Terry Ruscoe
▪ Hall of Fame Award (awarded to an individual): George Bianchi, Atwater Tire
Winners will be honored at a luncheon Sept. 22 at Hilmar Cheese Co. in Hilmar. A special section profiling the businesses will appear in the Sun-Star that same day. Tickets to the luncheon are $20 and are available at the Merced Sun-Star office, 3033 N. G St. in Merced. For more information, contact Deanna Whitmore at 209-578-2209 or dwhitmore@mercedsunstar.com.
This year’s judges were Robert Dylina, board member, Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce; Dave Hill, retired managing editor, Merced Sun-Star; Bruce Logue, pastor, Lifespring Church; Joe Kieta, editor, Merced Sun-Star/The Modesto Bee; David W. Ness, CFO, MERCO Credit Union; Ken Riddick, publisher, Merced Sun-Star/The Modesto Bee; Salvador Vazquez, president, Merced County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and Janice Wilkerson, Mission Integration Director/Mercy Medical Center in Merced.
This story was originally published August 4, 2016 at 5:05 PM with the headline "Winners of Excellence in Business awards announced."