Swamp Rabbit Cafe, Upstate Home Care Solutions get business of the year awards

Listen to this article

Swamp Rabbit Café and Grocery and Upstate Home Care Solutions each received business of the year awards from the Greenville Chamber of Commerce during the organization’s annual meeting Thursday.

Swamp Rabbit Café and Grocery was named the 2017 Small Business of the Year and Upstate Home Care Solutions was presented with the Minority Business of the Year award.

The chamber has recognized a Small Business of the Year for more than 40 years. Swamp Rabbit Café and Grocery received the award for “investing in the success of local farmers and artisans, empowering their staff to educate the community on the benefit of buying local and providing a vibrant gathering space,” according to a news release. The award is sponsored by Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP.

The Minority Business of the Year award, sponsored by Bank of America, is presented to a local, independently- and minority-owned company that has been in business for a minimum of three years. In six years, James Bennett Jr., founder of Upstate Home Care Solutions, has grown the company to two Upstate locations with two registered nurses and nearly 100 caregivers, according to the release. He has a “rare combination of a business mind and a caregiver’s heart to assist clients with non-medical home care,” according to the chamber.

The chamber also recognized the following individuals and organization:

• Velda Hughes, founder of Hughes Agency, received the Athena Leadership Award for assisting women in reaching their full potential.
• Henry Horowitz, managing partner of Oxford Capital Partners LLC and Artisphere founder, was given the Buck Mickel Leadership Award, sponsored by Duke Energy, for his “passionate leadership, vision and dedication to the arts in South Carolina.”
• Greenville trail lawyer and mediator Steven Buckingham was awarded the 2017 Chairman’s Award, sponsored by Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak and Stewart. “His dedication and service to the chamber has been critical to the revisions of the chamber’s governance bylaws as well as the chamber’s leadership development programs,” the release said.
• Nancy Whitworth, deputy city manager and director of economic development for the city of Greenville, received the 2017 F. Ben Haskew Collaboration Award, sponsored by Furman University, for displaying “progressive visions and a partnership approach to responsible growth in the Upstate.”
• Rev. Deb Richardson-Moore, pastor and director of Triune Mercy Center, received the Leadership Greenville Distinguished Alumni Award, given to someone who has made “outstanding civic and community contributions.”
• Nicholtown Child and Family Collaborative was given the Max Heller Neighborhood Improvement Award, sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, for “innovative, multi-generational approach to improving community outcomes through education, employment and health.” The award is named for former Greenville Mayor Max Heller, who spearheaded numerous efforts over the years to improve the quality of life for all citizens of Greenville County.
• Ryan Johnston, executive vice president of Community Journals, was presented with the Young Professional of the Year Award, sponsored by Michelin, for his “leadership in the creation of several Upstate publications as well as his dedication to the revitalization of the Village of West Greenville,” the release said.