Varghese Summersett Named 2023 Small Business Of The Year
Varghese Summersett has been named a “Small Business of the Year” by the Fort Worth Chamber, a distinguished award that recognizes and honors small businesses that have demonstrated exemplary best practices of entrepreneurship.
The award recipients were announced on Friday, October 6, during Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker’s annual “State of the City” event at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Mark Nurdin, President and CEO of Bank of Texas-Fort Worth, presented the awards before a sold-out crowd of more than 1000 attendees.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of a growing economy and essential for Fort Worth,” Nurdin told the audience. “They drive innovation, create jobs, and fuel growth, so their success is success for Fort Worth. Bank of Texas is honored to support and empower these small businesses, and many others, as they continue to innovate and thrive.”
Twelve small business finalists were invited to the event, where 5 winners were announced in categories based on size and stages of development. Varghese Summersett won in the category of 21 to 50 employees.
“Being named a ‘Small Business of the Year’ by the Fort Worth Chamber is an incredible honor,” said Benson Varghese, Managing Partner of Varghese Summersett. “When I started out, nearly a decade ago, I knew Fort Worth was the place to be. The incredible growth that we’ve seen is a reflection of what is happening in Fort Worth. We’re privileged to help good folks in this community through the toughest times in their lives.
“This award is for every member of our team who works tirelessly to uphold our commitment to excellence by providing unmatched service and obtaining unparalleled outcomes for our clients. I couldn’t be prouder, and I am thankful to the Chamber for recognizing those efforts.”
The Fort Worth Chamber presented its first awards for Small Business of the Year (SBOY) in 1998 and the prestigious program has continued to evolve. The annual awards are presented to businesses that have demonstrated exemplary best practices of entrepreneurship, including sound business planning, fiscal responsibility, and work process innovation.
This year, the first round of judging utilized blind assessments, where the judges evaluated the companies without being aware of their names. The selection process criteria included talent attraction and retention (45 percent); business challenges and solutions (30 percent); and community engagement and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
From there, the judges nominated 12 finalists – 3 in each category, who attended in-person interviews with a panel of community leaders. The finalists were also invited to attend a newly-created “Small Business of the Year Showcase,” which was held before the State of the City address and allowed the businesses to showcase their services or products.
After the Small Business Showcase, the finalists and members of their team were asked to attend the State of the City event, where the winners were announced in the following categories:
Divine Intervention Recovery: Emerging Business
6th Avenue Storytelling: 1-20 Employees
Varghese Summersett: 21 – 50 Employees
Ampersand Coffee and Auticon USA: 51-100 Employees (co-winners)
Steve Montgomery, President and CEO of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, extended congratulations to the 2023 award recipients for the exceptional achievements and their invaluable contributions to our community.
“Fort Worth has always been a city that champions its small business,” Montgomery said. “We take immense pride in recognizing the hard work, dedication, and innovation demonstrated by Divine Intervention, 6th Avenue Storytelling, Varghese Summersett, Ampersand Coffee, and Auticon USA. These businesses epitomize the entrepreneurial spirit that rules Fort Worth’s prosperity.”
About Varghese Summersett
Headquartered in downtown Forth Worth, Varghese Summersett is a premiere criminal defense, personal injury, and family law practice dedicated to helping people through life’s greatest challenges. The firm’s roster is full of highly-experienced, award-winning attorneys committed to providing exceptional legal services. Varghese Summersett has more than 680 5-Star Google reviews and has been named a “DFW Favorite,” a “Best Place to Work,” and a “Best Place for Working Parents,” among numerous other accolades.
