Businesses of the Year 2009

The Palms West Chamber of Commerce has named Julie Kime of Alstate Insurance and Dale Pickford of Graphic Signs as winners of its prestigious 2009 Business of the Year awards.

In view of the chamber's service region and business composition, two awards are annually bestowed-one for a business with growth annual sales size of less than $2 million and the other for a business with annual gross sales of $2 million or more. The process for selection is rigorous, including nominations, detailed applications and committee evaluation/selection.

      Before there was a Palms West Chamber of Commerce, there was Julie Kime. For thirty years she has been serving central Palm Beach County as an Allstate Insurance agent. If you've lived or worked in Wellington long enough you probably know of Julie through her work as one of the state's top Allstate agents or though her philanthropic efforts. It is for these reasons, and a whole laundry list of others, the Palms West Chamber of Commerce was honored to name Julie Kime as its 2009 Business of the Year award recipient for a business with gross sales of more than $2 million annually. "I am proud of my name in the community as being a supporter of charities both financially as well as donated time," remarks Kime. "If you benefit from business in the community you should contribute and that has been very rewarding for me."

     And it has been very rewarding for local charities, not to mention the Palms West Chamber of Commerce, where Kime has pledged more than $10,000 towards the new Palms West Chamber of Commerce building and hundreds of thousands of dollars to one of her favorite charities, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County. For her contributions to the youth organization, she was recently recognized and nominated to the Jeremiah Milbank Society, an elite group of individuals dedicated to serving their local Boys & Girls Clubs.

And it has been very rewarding for local charities, not to mention the Palms West Chamber of Commerce, where Kime has pledged more than $10,000 towards the new Palms West Chamber of Commerce building and hundreds of thousands of dollars to one of her favorite charities, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County. For her contributions to the youth organization, she was recently recognized and nominated to the Jeremiah Milbank Society, an elite group of individuals dedicated to serving their local Boys & Girls Clubs.

The Palms West Chamber of Commerce is also fortunate to have Dale Pickford's guidance and equally honored to name Pickford as the 2009 Business of the Year recipient for a business with gross sales of less than $2 million.
With an amazing sense of creativity, technological savvy, and ability to solve any problem, no matter how complex, Dale Pickford has become an invaluable asset to the Palms West Chamber of Commerce. It's hard to believe it was only three years ago when the president of Graphic-Signs, a full service state licensed sign and printing company, joined the chamber. Although still relatively new to the organization, Pickford's business acumen is somewhat legendary for a small business owner. After retiring from a career in information technology five years ago, Pickford started his business in 2005 as he was looking to marry his artistic passion with his technology skills. A high-quality digital print operation was the perfect fit. Gradually Pickford began providing additional services based on his customers requests, leading his business to where it is today a full-service sign and printing shop with complete in-house graphic design services. Pickford believes his success is based on taking pride in what he creates and enjoying helping his customers to succeed.
Shortly after Pickford started his business, the British ex-patriot joined the chamber and served as an ambassador, welcoming new businesses to the chamber.
"When I first joined I became and ambassador because I knew the best way to grow my business through the chamber was to meet other chamber members," says a modest Pickford. "This has proven to be so true; we actually do very little advertising as almost all of our new customers are referrals."
Pickford understands the value of the chamber and recently increased his membership level to trustee status and serves on the chamber's board of directors, as vice-chairman of technology, naturally.

Pickford is not only an active member of the chamber, but believes in giving back to the community and serves as an assistant Scoutmaster and provides in-kind sign services for many local charities. When time allows, Pickford is literally not so grounded as his hobbies include flying, as he carries a commercial pilot's license, motorsports and is a rescue scuba diver. Although Pickford would like more time for his passions, time is precious for this father of two who is busy planning future Graphic-Signs locations.

"The future is to continue to grow without compromising our focus on customer service and quality. We aim to add additional locations when the timing is right and the right staff mix can be assured."
Congratulations to both Julie Kime and Dale Pickford on earning the chamber's 2009 Business of the Year award.

Past Business of the Year Award Winners
(Business with annual gross sales of over $2 million)
Wellington Regional Medical Center (2008)
Mall at Wellington Green (2007)

(Business with annual gross sales of less than $2 million)
Insurance For You, Inc./Silvia C. Garcia (2008)
Armand Professional Services (2007)
Cardinal Appraisal (2006)
A Fast-Trac Courier (2005)
Morrow Enterprises (2004)
Systems Design & Programming (2003)
Health and Wellness Consultants (2002)
The Jordano Insurance Group (2001)
Toni Lynn's Baton & Dance Studio (2000)
Goldon Travel (1999)
Dr. Scott Snyder (1998)
Town and Country Travel (1997)
Wellington Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery (1996)
A Moveable Feast (1995)
College Assist (1994)