Two Comox Valley businesses who strive to be as successful as they can with their customers are being recognized as finalists at the Successful You Awards.

Sponsored by Small Business BC (SBBC), Seeds Natural Food Market in Cumberland and Walker Technologies in Courtenay are one of five businesses from around the province nominated in the Best Employer and Best Green Business categories respectively.

The award winners will be recognized at a business-networking event open to the public March 29 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver from 5 to 8 p.m.

Selecting the Successful You Awards winners is a three-step process. First, businesses applied online and then used their social network to help them secure the most votes (proportional to the size of the region) and a place in the top 10. 

Once the top 10 was selected Dec. 20, each business submitted an extended application, that was the basis of selecting the top five nominees. 

Now that the top five have been selected, each business will create a business pitch that they present to judges. The judges will select the winner of each category based on the pitches.

鈥淭here is tough competition in each award category this year,鈥漵aid George Hunter, CEO of SBBC.  鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to have such a great cross-section of nominees and we know that the four winners in 2011 will be an exemplary group.鈥�

As B.C.鈥檚 leading provider of small business services and support, SBBC offers the awards as a way to recognize the achievements of small businesses from around B.C. 

This year, the four categories of awards include: Best Company, Best Concept, Best Employer and Best Green Business.鈥�

The awards ceremony is also a forum for local small businesses to network with industry veterans, government officials, delegates and award sponsors while celebrating the huge successes of the small business industry in B.C. in the past year. 

Tickets to the event are $69 and can be purchased online at www.SuccessfulYou.ca

鈥� Small Business BC