Nominate Your Favorite Phoenixville Entrepreneur/Business

It’s a brand new idea for the area, and those behind it hope it catches on.

On Oct. 8, the first Phoenixville Area Entrepreneur Expo will take place at Franklin Commons at 400 Franklin Ave. Plans for the day include guest speakers, a panel of entrepreneurs, networking opportunities, children’s activities, door prizes and a helping of entrepreneur-related advice and news.

“Entrepreneurs are the hardest working people,” said Dolores Winston of the Western Suburban Business Alliance, which is behind the event. “Plus it takes guts to be an entrepreneur.”

With that in mind, the alliance plans to award several honors at the expo, including the award for Entrepreneur of the Year, honoring one entrepreneur or business in the Phoenixville Area School District.

Phoenixville Patch—or more specifically, Patch readers—will help pick a winner for that award, which will be given by state Sen. Andy Dinniman (D-Chester/Montgomery).

Start thinking, and consider the following criteria when deciding on your nomination:

• Charitable giving
• Longevity
• Involvement
• Innovation
• Customer service
• Quality of service/product

Over the next few days, we’ll be accepting nominations for the award through Phoenixville Patch, and after the nomination period closes, readers can vote on who should take home the award.

Please either put the name of the entrepreneur or business you’d like to nominate in the comments below, or e-mail the editor at lynn.jusinski@patch.com with the name of your nominee. Remember to keep the above criteria in mind.

For more information on the Phoenixville Area Entrepreneur Expo 2011, visit www.paeexpo.com or e-mail paeexpo@yahoo.com. There are still open spots for vendors at the Oct. 8 expo.