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Chattanooga: Dunson Auto gets minority recognition

By: Brian Lazenby
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Terri Ruff

Napoleon Dunson said Thursday that his Minority Enterprise Development Week award validates how hard he works.

“It’s good to be recognized for it,” said Mr. Dunson, whose company, Dunson Auto Repair, was named the 2008 Minority Business of the Year.

About 200 people, many of them minority business owners, gathered Thursday at the Chattanoogan Hotel Ballroom where the Minority Enterprise Development group awarded Edible Arrangements, 4513 Brainerd Road, with the Young Entrepreneur Business of the Year.

Owner Melanie Bone, who purchased the Edible Arrangement franchise three years ago, said she is thrilled to be recognized.

She said her business sells fruit baskets cut to look like floral bouquets.

“It looks great, tastes great and is something that will not go to waste,” she said.

The group named Lois’s Classic Boutique at 6861 Lee Highway as the Trail Blazer Business of the year.

The Greater Chattanooga Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, 801 McCallie Ave., was named the Service Business of the Year, and the Krystal Co., 1 Union Square, was named the Corporate business of the year.

Shelby County Mayor AC Wharton, this year’s keynote speaker, told the group that, as small business owners, they should not focus on trying to provide the cheapest products and services, but on being the best.

“If we focus on who can be the cheapest, then we all lose,” he said. “Find something about your business that separates it from all the others.”

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