Media 1 wins Small Business Award
NWBOC-certified Media 1 was presented with the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce (GRACC) 2006 Small Business of the Year award. Media 1, based in Grand Haven, Michigan, is an award-winning developer of globally focused instructor-led and online training programs for clients including Hewlett-Packard, Meijer, and Siemens. Founded in 1993, Media 1 specializes in creating innovative learning programs and decision support tools to help global corporations achieve their sales and performance goals. "It's a great honor for the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce to recognize Media 1 as the Small Business of the Year," said Media 1 CEO and founder, Chris Willis. "This award is a glowing testimony to the high quality and strong work ethic that our business community is known for."
For more information, visit the Media 1 Web site at www.media1.us.

Meet Bobbie Ruch of Acloché, LLC
George C. Ruch Sr. and Betty Lou Ruch started Acloché LLC in Ohio in 1968. Their daughter Roberta "Bobbie" Ruch started working for the company in 1973 and when her father died in 1983, Bobbie began running the company. At the time she was Vice President and today she commands the company as President and CEO.

Since 1968, Acloché has taken a consultative approach to providing customized Human Resources strategies and workforce staffing solutions of 15,000 people annually in a network of 11 locations to over 1,600 client organizations in Central Ohio. Acloché is 100% women owned; Bobbie owns 51 % while her daughter Georgia owns the rest.

"The NWBOC certification is very important to us and we are in the process of launching a marketing initiative to make the most of our affiliation," she said.

"Market-driven organizations leverage human capital to stay in step with the dramatic economic and technological changes driving business strategies and plan execution," said Bobbie. "Acloché's human capital plans deliver choice, control, and access to achieve agility and alignment between business and workforce strategy. Acloché provides fresh, new possibilities for today and for the future, creating versatile and integrated client alliances."

Founding member and former treasurer of Women in Family Owned Business, Bobbie acts as Director, Chair, and Board member for numerous committees, clubs, associations, and foundations. Bobbie also stays active with many community and civic affairs. Some of Bobbie's hobbies include reading, farming, backgammon, and visual arts.

Acloché opened two new offices recently, one in Bucyrus and one in Washington Court House.
For more information, go to www.acloche.com.

Meet Sandra Foland of Baron Sign Manufacturing
After living in Italy for 11 years, Sandra Foland started Baron Sign Manufacturing in Riviera Beach, Florida, in 1983. Originally, she did sign painting for outdoor advertising, but with the advent of technology and die-cut vinyl for signs, she more than doubled the business. "One piece of equipment led to another and I grew to include larger exterior signage as well as interior signage for commercial projects," she said.

Sandie's husband joined the business in 1986 and they purchased a 10,000 square foot building to expand. Three years later they added two more buildings, equaling 17,000 square foot for designing and manufacturing interior and exterior signs.

"Certification has given me the opportunity to be listed as an approved sign contractor for government agencies, airports and negotiated construction," said Sandie. "It has allowed me to showcase my business as a full service sign manufacturing company, equal to any larger sign manufacturing company. It was the lack of any professional sign company in the area and expansion of computer equipment that has propelled us to be the largest design/build sign manufacturing in South Florida."

Three years ago Sandie was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thirty days later, her gall bladder had to be removed and she was diagnosed with kidney cancer. She had the surgeries, completed the treatments and was back at work ready to expand the business within three months.

Earlier this year in February, they moved into a new 40,000 square foot facility that she had built, with office space and a production plant. "Many new opportunities for outstanding sign projects are opening up with this facility," she said. "The employees are very happy to work in a new clean environment where they are proud to come to work."
For more information, go to www.BaronSign.com.

DRB Electric Wins Ethics in Business Award
DRB Electric, owned by Denise and Randy Bake in Albuquerque, N. Mex., received Samaritan Counseling Center's New Mexico Ethics in Business Award. The competition, which gives three awards annually to a for-profit business, recognizes those companies, non-profit organizations and individuals who have successfully integrated ethical business and social responsibility into their daily decision-making.

Certified by NWBOC, DRB Electric provides electrical contracting, maintenance, and installation of electronic transport systems to commercial, industrial and residential customers.