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3 Businesses Battle For Chamber Honor

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By JOYCE McKENZIE

jmckenzie@tampatrib.com

Published: January 21, 2009

TEMPLE TERRACE - They've just come through a stellar 2008, yet three business leaders have been in a nail-biting mode since the new year began.

Antonio's Pasta Grille owner Jim Montevago, Express Professional Employment principal Lee Bell and veterinarian Link Welborn, who heads up the Temple Terrace Animal & Bird Hospital, are finalists in the Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce's 2008 Ed Hanna Business of the Year competition,

Their nervous tension will be put to rest today when the winner is announced during a luncheon at the Temple Terrace Golf & County Club.

The three businesses were selected from a group of 21 nominees. To qualify, the business must be privately owned and in operation for a minimum of three years. The judging criteria are based on staff increase, sales growth, facility improvements, economic impact on the community and civic involvement.

"The responsibility of selecting the Business of the Year finalists becomes clear as the committee convenes and begins to read through the nominations," said chamber executive director Cheri Donohue. "The impact of each of these businesses on the community through their support of schools and service organizations, plus their commitment to provide goods and services, makes the final selection difficult."

Montevago's Italian restaurant opened in 2000. The Temple Terrace business employs about 40, many of whom have been on board since the start.

Not only does Montevago pride himself on the restaurant's cuisine, he is also proud of his involvement in the community through food and financial contributions. His business supports several University of South Florida organizations, Masque Community Theatre, Moffitt Cancer Center events, youth sports teams and church fundraisers. He also hosts a weekly chamber networking luncheon.

"I feel honored to be able to be picked out, and if I happen to win that's even better," Montevago said. "The chamber is a great organization that helps out a lot of businesses."

Bell opened Express Professional Employment in 2004 and has four fulltime employees. The business offers temporary, contract, evaluation to hire and direct hire services.

The franchise also provides Internet-based payroll processing, human resource auditing services and human resources training programs. It has grown from $50,000 in sales in 2004 to close to $2 million last year.

Bell serves on the chamber's board as vice president of projects and was winner of the Chamber Champion Award in 2007-08. He is a University Area Business Association board member and supports several organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Metropolitan Ministries, the Salvation Army and Special Olympics.

"I was honored to be nominated and floored when they came into my office and told me I was a finalist," he said.

Veterinarians Link Welborn and Timothy Lassett took over the practice of James Robinson in 1991, who until his death in 1986 operated the Temple Terrace Animal Hospital since 1959.

Welborn and Lassett, renamed the facility the Temple Terrace Animal & Bird Hospital. The facility employs 17 and provides medical, free pet taxi, boarding and grooming services. Its sales rose from $792,000 in 2004 to $1.3 million in 2008.

Welborn was named Florida's 2006 Veterinarian of the Year.

Welborn, who grew up near Temple Terrace and graduated from King High School, is also a past president of the American Animal Hospital Association and is on the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association's board.

The hospital's staff participates in the Temple Terrace Fourth of July parade, Temple Terrace Relay for Life, the Great American Teach-In, the chamber's health fair and its annual business expo.

"It's obviously quite an honor to be a finalist for this award, and we've been fortunate to be recognized within the community," said Welborn. "We try to do our part. A lot of it is related to our profession, but we also try to participate in events that have to do with the community."

The award, created about 15 years ago, is named after Ed Hanna, a longtime chamber member and former president.

"This year's three finalists have unique contributions to the economic impact on our community," Donohue said. "We are happy to have them call Temple Terrace home."

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849.

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