Marnie! Marnie! Marnie!

Marnie Stone says she couldn't have found a way to successfully balance her business and family life, if not for her parents.

During her acceptance speech for her Athena Award at yesterday's Chamber of Commerce Awards luncheon, Stone talked about the family behind Sault Ste. Marie's 82-year-old office supply store.

She said the support of her parents has meant everything to her, even to her mother finding all the mismatched socks in her laundry room yesterday.

"My kids have socks!" she said.

Stone and her sock-matching mom, Judith Foulds, are shown.

Marnie also talked about support from Saultites that has knocked her socks off.

She said she knows her father doesn't envy her in her present situation, with so much competition, but the support Stone's Office Supply sees on a daily basis from Sault customers and businesses makes it work.

The Athena Award, celebrating the potential of women as valued members and leaders of the community and recognizing those who support them, was one of 11 awards presented by the Chamber of Commerce yesterday.

The following are 2009 winners.

Click on the links to see details on each winner.

************************* Sault Chamber celebrates business excellence at 120th annual meeting

SAULT STE. MARIE - Yesterday, local business representatives gathered at the 120th Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting and Business Awards luncheon to celebrate business excellence and the entrepreneurial spirit.

The event featured a keynote address by Elaine S. Pitcher, Chair Sault Area Hospital board of directors.

The business awards portion of the event put the spotlight on 11 local Chamber-member entrepreneurs and agencies and featured a dynamic video awards component sponsored by Bell.

Award recipients included:

- John Martella of Green Circle Environmental Recycling Inc., was presented with the Skipper Manzzutti Award for Business Achievement.

- Bill Shepherd of Bruce Street Storage received the Chamber's Volunteer of the Year Award.

- Jim Hilsinger of Algoma's Water Tower Inn was awarded the Paul Dalseg Award.

- The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Corps was presented with the Chamber's President's award.

- ATS (Algoma Telephone Systems Inc.) was presented with the Entrepreneur/ Business of the Year Award sponsored by Palmer Construction Group Inc. and given in memory of the lake Mike Rainone.

- Soo Foundry & Machine Ltd. was presented with the Business Development Award sponsored by the Business Development Bank of Canada.

- City Meat Market was presented with the Marketing Award sponsored by Algoma Office Equipment.

- Soo Mill Buildall was presented with the Customer Service Award sponsored by the Community Development Corporation of Sault Ste. Marie of Sault Ste. Marie and Area.

- Essar Steel Algoma Inc. was presented with the Environment Award sponsored by the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation.

- Soo Foundry & Machine Ltd. was presented with the Safe Work, Sound Business Award sponsored by Sault Ste. Marie Safe Communities Partnership.

- Marnie Stone of Stone's Office Supply was presented with the Athena Award sponsored by Sault College.

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