Photo by Jennifer McNally / Walter Lindsey, founder of the Unity One East security company, addresses the crowd at the Urban League’s Entrepreneur Power Lunch at the Westin Hotel on Wednesday after winning the Small Business of the Year award.Business owners Walter Lindsey and Londie Nichole were recognized with top awards this week during the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga's Seventh Annual Entrepreneur Power Lunch.
Lindsey, who is the founder and CEO of Unity One East security company, was honored with the Small Business of the Year award. Nichole, the owner of The Peach Cobbler Company, was the recipient of the New Business of the Year honor.
Both are graduates of the Urban League's NextLevel program, a 7-month training course that offers financial guidance and mentorship for small business owners.
"An award like that means a lot," Lindsey said after receiving the award Wednesday during a luncheon at the Westin Hotel. "I've been in business for a while now. You just keep your head down and work and work and work. You don't think people are paying attention. So to be recognized like that on stage is a great honor."
Unity One East, located on Lee Highway, has been in business since 2015. The company started with 26 employees and now employs 35 people, with plans to add more in the coming months. The company is headquartered in Chattanooga, with operations in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama.
The Peach Cobbler Company is one of several business endeavors for Nichole. She's also the owner of Levelz Salon and has her own line of hair care products. Both businesses are located along MLK Boulevard.
"I've been an entrepreneur for a long time," she said in an interview. "I'm not from Chattanooga, but have been here for 22 years. I felt like I'm finally being recognized for all my hard work."
Photo by Jennifer McNally / Londie Nichole, the owner of The Peach Cobbler on M.L. King Boulevard, talks at the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga’s Seventh Annual Entrepreneur Power Lunch after winning the New Business of the Year award.She said the dessert company currently employs six people -- five of them in high school, one in college. And helping young people get a start to their careers is part of what makes her work fulfilling.
"My first job was at Walmart, and their concern was always customer service. I see we've lost that," she said. "I enjoy being kids' first employer. I like passing along good customer service.
"Many kids these days don't know how to communicate. But they need to talk. I enjoy getting them young and sharing with them."
Also this week, Sanders Construction and Caldwell Cleaning received checks for $5,000 as part of the Urban League's Black Prosperity Grant Award.
Contact Jennifer McNally at jmcnally@timesfreepress.com