Twenty-four Austin-area businesses were recognized for outstanding business accomplishments during the Eighth Annual Greater Austin Business Awards held August 27 at the Hilton hotel. This year’s theme, “We Built This City”, honored the past and present of the Austin region and the businesses that made it what it is today.

“The Austin region would not be one of the best places in the nation to live and work without the superb accomplishments of our business community,” said Mark Curry, Chamber Board of Directors and Community Bank President Wells Fargo Bank. “All of the businesses that were nominated are outstanding. It’s so heartening to learn about the many businesses that are making a difference in Austin and to do so at such an exceptional event.”

Created in 2001, the Greater Austin Business Awards has grown to over 1,000 attendees each year and has sold out the past four years. Award categories include Innovation, Customer Service, Community Service, Education, Environment and Take On Traffic. Each of these categories recognized winners in small, medium, large and non-profit businesses. In addition, Freescale Semiconductor, one of the title sponsors, honored the most outstanding nonprofit organization with the $5,000 Freescale Not-For-Profit Award.

The Chamber congratulates all companies that were nominated. The 2008 winners are:

UFCU — COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Small: KeyStaff, Inc.
Medium: David Weekley Homes
Large: H.E.B.
Non-Profit: Meals on Wheels & More

TRULUCK’S — CUSTOMER SERVICE
Small: Buffington Mortgage
Medium: SpawGlass
Large: Four Seasons Hotel
Non-Profit: LeTourneau University

TEMPLE-INLAND — EDUCATION
Small: EDUSPARK, Inc.
Medium: WaMu
Large: A+ Federal Credit Union
Non-Profit: Austin Community College

AUSTIN ENERGY — ENVIRONMENTAL
Small: Office Furniture NOW!
Medium: Balcones Recycling
Large: IBM
Non-Profit: Keep Austin Beautiful

TIME WARNER — INNOVATION
Small: Fallbrook Technologies Inc.
Medium: HelioVolt Corporation
Large: Active Power
Non-Profit: St. Edward’s University

ABC SERVICES — TAKE ON TRAFFIC
Small/Medium: Green Mountain Energy Company
Large: Advanced Micro Devices
Non-Profit: Capital Area Transportation Coalition

FREESCALE — NOT-FOR-PROFIT
Caritas of Austin

A special thanks to Title Sponsors: The Austin American-Statesman, Freescale Semiconductor, Hilton-Austin, PSAV Presentation Services and Wells Fargo. Media Sponsors: KEYE, KVUE, KXAN, News 8 and Univision. Award Sponsors: ABC Services, Austin Energy, Freescale Semiconductor, Temple-Inland, Time Warner Cable, Truluck’s and University Federal Credit Union. Contributing Sponsors: Clear Channel Radio, Oxford Commercial, Texas Gas Services and Media Nation.