The St. Croix Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners of the prestigious Business and Professional Excellence Awards, celebrated at the Champions of Commerce Awards Gala on Saturday, May 18, at the Grapetree Bay Hotel.
These awards recognize outstanding businesses and individuals across various industries who exemplify excellence in leadership, innovation, customer service and community impact.
“We are incredibly impressed by the caliber of nominees this year,” said Akeel St. Jean Esq., the Chamber’s chairman of the board. “The dedication and achievements of these businesses and individuals are truly inspiring, and we are honored to recognize them for their contributions to our community’s economic success.”
The Business and Professional Excellence Awards winners by category are as follows:
- Business of the Year: Quality Food
- Small Business of the Year: IB Designs
- Businessman of the Year: Mafi Hamed, The Market
- Businesswoman of the Year: Kisha Christian, Neighborhood Pharmacy
- New Business of the Year: Fly The Whale
- Non-Profit of the Year: Women’s Coalition of St. Croix
The St. Croix Chamber of Commerce Business and Professional Excellence Awards celebrates the achievements of outstanding businesses and individuals in our community. The Chamber selected five businesses or business professionals per category from an open call for nominations held in October 2023.
In addition to being a member of the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce, nomination requirements included exemplary leadership, fostering employment opportunities, quality customer service and positive community involvement.
Digital voting was opened to the public from April 10 – May 2, 2024, and it received an unprecedented number of votes—over 1,700 per category.
Returning for the first time since the pandemic, the annual gala supports the Chamber’s Scholarship Fund, which has assisted dozens of young Virgin Islanders in accomplishing their dreams.
The chamber is eternally grateful for the support of this year’s sponsors: Brava by Viya, TJ Ocean Auto, VI Lottery, Marshall & Sterling, Popular, Liberty, First Bank, The Market, J. Benton Construction, Neighborhood Pharmacy, Oriental Bank, Caravelle Hotel & Casino, Bank of St. Croix, Bohlke, Paradise Freight, Ashley Furniture St. Croix, Tropical Shipping, Marriott Frenchman’s, Daily News, Diageo, Fly The Whale, VI Consortium.
