For the fourth year, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce honored 11 dynamic businesses and industries that make up the Charleston region's economy and best reflect the vision, mission and core values of the Chamber through the 1773 Chamber Awards.

Winners

- Communications: Call Experts, a 60+ employee call center that has a diverse staff performing very diverse functions.

- Public/Non-Profit: The Citadel's Corps of Cadets represents a rich and diverse group of young men and women from across America and many different foreign countries, intent on preparing themselves to be principled leaders in their chosen fields of endeavor.

- Manufacturing/Transportation: Formed in 1997, Force Protection, Inc. is now the nation's leader in blast technology.

Force Protection designs, tests, manufactures, delivers, and supports blast- and ballistic-protected vehicles, now in service throughout the world.

- Retail/Wholesale: In the face of global economic downturn, Goodwill Industries of Lower South Carolina expanded retail operations in an effort to generate mission revenues and provide further employment opportunities and increase services to the Lowountry.

- Educational Services: For 45 years, Trident Technical College second only to USC in the number of undergraduates it serves, TTC students have access to over 150 associate degree and credit certificate programs.

- Transportation/Warehousing: TBC Corporation is the nation's largest vertically integrated marketer of tires for the automotive replacement market. In March, 2011, TBC officially opened its new 1.1 million square foot distribution facility in the Jedburg area.

- Scientific/Technical Services: Kestrel Horizons is a small-but-powerful team of engineers, scientists, and managers with the ability to bring resources to bear swiftly and efficiently to accomplish extraordinary results.

- Finance/Insurance: Wachovia - A Wells Fargo Company, is a national bank, with diversified community based financial services.

- Healthcare: East Cooper Medical Center was the first hospital in South Carolina to achieve five gold seals. Their mission is to deliver safe, cost-effective care to the Charleston community.

- Hospitality/Tourism: The Embassy Suites North Charleston - Airport/Hotel and Convention Center is a central and integral feature of the area economy with 255 all-suite rooms (a concept they pioneered), a 25,000 square foot ballroom and 14 meeting rooms. With a 3 Diamond rating, the facility provides our business community the diverse facilities needed to highlight their local events as well as, a premier location for those companies located outside the area to utilize.

- Construction/Real Estate: Started as a one man operation in 1991, Citadel Enterprises, Inc. has grown steadily to become one of the highest rated fullservice remodeling companies in the Lowcountry for customer service.

The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce serves as the catalyst for advancing the economy, improving our quality of life and enhancing our members' success.