FW Chamber hands out business awards

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of its yearly business awards Thursday.

Aptera Software, Inc. claimed the honor of Small Business of the Year. Chamber leaders saluted Aptera for providing high-tech, high-paying jobs and for supporting downtown revitalization efforts in Fort Wayne. Aptera has also been named one of Indiana's 50 "Companies to Watch" by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

The winner of Large Business of the Year was Brooks Construction Company. The Chamber commended Brooks for being a leader in asphalt recycling and other "green" practices as well as for its quiet contributions to local not-for-profit organizations.

The Chamber named Parkview Health CEO Mike Packnett its CEO of the Year. Packnett was cited for making a difference in the community in several respects: spearheading the largest-ever cash donation to Community Harvest Food Bank in 2008, helping downtown revitalization by sponsoring Parkview Field, and for making Parkview a better place to work through personal responses to every e-mail from co-workers and by offering performance-based quarterly bonuses.

Steve Ybarra of Indiana Michigan Power took home Employee of the Year honors. Ybarra supervises people responsible for the maintenance and operation of Fort Wayne's electric distribution system. He was commended for supervising the response to the 2008 ice storm in Fort Wayne and for keeping workers safe during that response.

The winners were selected from a pool of nominated Chamber members. They were selected based on factors like contribution to the business community, reputation for integrity & fair business practices, product & management innovation, and dedication to their organizations' missions.