Two West Seattle businesses have been named Mayor Greg Nickels Small Business Award winners.

The winners include Alki Kayak Tours and Cupcake Royale /Verite Coffee (also the Ballard location).

The business owners, along with representatives from eight other winners from around the city, will accept the award at a ceremony at Town Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

“Small businesses are the economic engines that employ local people and provide innovative products and services throughout our city – small business owners are my heroes,” said Mayor Nickels in a statement. “They add character to our neighborhoods and create gathering places that make Seattle so wonderful.”

Every year, 10 small businesses in Seattle receive special recognition for their accomplishments through the Mayor’s Small Business Awards presented by Wells Fargo. This is the 25th year of the program.

Alki Kayak Tours
Greg & Kara Whittaker - (206) 953-0237

1660 Harbor Ave. S.W.

Spurred by their love of exploring the natural beauty of the West Seattle peninsula, Greg and Kara Whittaker founded Alki Kayak Tours in 2005 with the goal of getting paddlers on the waters of the Puget Sound.

Their sea kayak touring business, which began with one primary guide and one small fleet of kayaks, now employs twelve people seasonally and will get more than 100 people paddling on Elliott Bay on a busy day. In addition to sea kayak tours that explore the natural history and human history of Puget Sound, the company also provides kayak, inline skate, bike, and fishing boat rentals overlooking the Seattle skyline.

Alki Kayak Tours’ use of non-polluting human powered watercraft, plus adherence to environmental best management practices, embodies the Whittakers’ dedication to sustainable business practices as well as the conservation and preservation of Puget Sound. Their tours were recently voted “Best Way to View the Seattle Skyline” in the Seattle Weekly’s Best of 2009 Issue.

Cupcake Royale and Vérité Coffee
Jody Hall – (206) 782-9557
4556 California Ave. S.W.

Founded in 2003 with only seven employees, Jody now operates four neighborhood locations in Ballard, Capitol Hill, Madrona, and West Seattle. In addition to supplying Seattle with its favorite food addictions, Jody has advocated in Washington, D.C. for healthcare reform that would make it easier for small businesses to buy affordable and comprehensive insurance for employees – one way she makes sure that her staff shares in the rewards of her business.

A daily huddle among managers and employees ensures that everyone in the organization is on the same page, from company sales goals to customer service strategies. Giving back to the community is paramount as well; last year, they donated more than 25,000 cupcakes to local organizations, schools, and children’s charities, helping raise an estimated $200,000 for various programs throughout Puget Sound.

Other winners include:

Annie’s Nannies (Ballard)
Ballard and Greenwood Sip and Sip
Gravity Payments (Interbay)
Nyhus Communications LLC (Downtown)
Schemata Workshop (Capitol Hill)
SH Worldwide (South Lake Union)
Shen Consulting, Inc (Capitol Hill)
X-BAR (Pioneer Square)

According to the city, this year’s winners represent a cross-section of Seattle’s small businesses and illustrate the diverse nature of small business in the variety of services, locations and strategies for success. To qualify, the business must have no more than 100 employees and gross revenues of less than $10 million.

The five judges involved in this year’s awards included small business owners, previous awards winners and representatives of community development organizations.

After a confidential review of the nominations and rounds of deliberation, they selected this year’s winners.

The awards ceremony details:

When:
Tuesday, Oct. 13
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Reception from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (Formal Program starts at 6:30 p.m.)

Where:
Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Avenue, Seattle (Between Spring & Seneca) www.townhallseattle.org

Parking:
Street and area garages; also Parking at Convention Center Main Garage (Entrance is on 8th Avenue between Seneca and Pike Streets)
Discounted parking vouchers ($4) are available for pick up at event

Tickets:
Tickets may be purchased online (brownpapertickets.com/event/84535) for $20.
They will also be sold at the door of the event; please bring a check or cash.