This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Salt Lake City-based Cuisine Unlimited has been recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as one of seven regional finalists for the 2014 Dream Big Small Business of the Year Award.
The company competed against companies from Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah for the award, which is based on exceptional business practices and community involvement.
The Chamber will recognize Cuisine Unlimited, the six other regional finalists and 100 Blue Ribbon Award winners at the 10th annual America's Small Business Summit, taking place June 11 through June 13 in Washington, D.C. During the summit, one regional finalist will be named the Dream Big Small Business of the Year and receive a $10,000 cash prize courtesy of the U.S. Chamber.
"We are so honored to be recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce," said Maxine Turner, president of Cuisine Unlimited, which she opened in 1980. "It is never about an individual, but always about our Cuisine Unlimited group of professionals who love what they do and take pride in their work. We have never set our goal to be the largest catering company, but strive to always be the best."
U.S. Chamber President and CEO Thomas Donohue called the Utah company an example of the powerful contributions small businesses can make not only in their communities and their states, but also more broadly to the economic recovery.
Turner was also recently honored as the International Business Woman of the Year by the Utah chapter of the Organization of Women in International Trade and the Women's Business Center of the Salt Lake Chamber. The company employs more than 150 full and part-time staff in a 20,000-square-foot facility and generates in excess of $5.3 million. Turner plans to expand her business into the international sporting events when she debuts a U.S. Welcome Pavilion at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Twitter: @tribtomwharton