The Cobb Chamber honors its Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year, Businesses to Watch, the Small Business Hall of Fame, Next Level of Excellence, Community Service Excellence, and Special Award Categories winners.
Today, the Cobb Chamber named Yalo, a full-service creative agency, the 2024 Small Business of the Year at its Small Business of the Year Awards Luncheon, presented by LOUD Security Systems, Inc. and S.A. White Oil Company.
For the past 11 years, Yalo has been a 100 percent minority-owned creative agency, delivering branding, digital ecosystems, and omni-channel advertising for its roster of clients. Last year, Yalo was named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 list for its 151 percent revenue growth over a three-year period. Over the same time frame, Yalo’s personnel grew by 179 percent as well. By the end of 2023, the agency kept on the path of record growth, adding 12 new clients – its largest increase in net new clients ever. The company’s revenues reached over $10.64 Million, which is a year-over-year increase of 46 percent.
Yalo has a vibe that’s all its own. Drawing inspiration from film, arts, music, and sports, it creates dynamic brands for its clients while delivering unmatched results. Their soulful approach to each client’s brand essence and strategy makes them a standout within their industry.
As the Chamber’s 2024 Small Business of the Year, Yalo will compete in the state’s small business of the year competition.
Competitive Application and Selection Process
To be considered for the Top 25 Small Businesses of Year, each hopeful candidate submits an application to the Cobb Chamber. The applicants must prove an increase in sales or unit volume, provide examples of innovation, discuss adversity and challenges, and thoroughly detail their community involvement. Applications are analyzed and considered by a group of independent community business leaders and affiliates of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
After all the submitted applications are judged and rated, five finalists are selected based on their numerical score. The five finalists are then put through a second step in the application process – a site visit by an independent panel of judges. The visit is meant to be a fresh, in-person opportunity to present the ideals, practices, values, and day-to-day operations discussed in their initial application.
2024 Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year
The Cobb Chamber honored the following Top 25 Small Businesses at the 2024 Small Business of the Year Awards:
| 1885 Grill | Modo Modo Agency |
| 41 South Creative | Operative IQ |
| About You Family Medicine | Peachtree Hearing |
| DeNyse Companies | Perfect Image |
| DynamiX | Play |
| Eclipse Networks | Proda Technology |
| Essayon Progress Management | Riverside EpiCenter |
| Great South Metals | SpeedPro Marietta |
| GreenMellen Media | The Butcher on Whitlock |
| Honeysuckle Biscuits & Bakery | The Music Studio |
| Instant Imprints | The Veterinary Clinic |
| Janice Overbeck Real Estate Team | Yalo |
| Manay CPA |
Small Business Hall of Fame Inductee
The 2023 Small Business of the Year, CDH Partners, was also honored during the awards program. The reigning small business of the year is inducted into the Small Business Hall of Fame, which includes all county and state winners of the Small Business of the Year award from Cobb County since 1982.
Special Award Categories
The Cobb Chamber is proud to announce two special award categories: Minority-Owned Business of the Year and Woman-Owned Business of the Year.
The 2024 Minority-Owned Business of the Year was awarded to Perfect Image, one of Georgia’s only African American-owned commercial printers. The award recognizes a small business that has attained outstanding business achievement and exemplifies the significant contributions made by minority-owned businesses in the country.
The 2024 Woman-Owned Business of the Year award recognizes a small business that has attained outstanding business achievement and exemplifies the significant contributions made by women-owned businesses in the country. The 2024 award was awarded to FruiTea Bubbles Café, a fruit, milk, and boba tea house.
Community Service Excellence Award Winners
The Community Service Excellence Award is presented to a small business that has made a significant contribution to its community through impactful works of service. The 2024 Community Service Excellence Award was presented to two deserving companies, 1885 Grill and The Alley Stage.
2024 Business to Watch
In order to recognize the impressive accomplishments of many new Cobb businesses, the Cobb Chamber expanded its Small Business of the Year program to include the Businesses To Watch awards presentation. These are businesses that have launched less than three years ago and have already achieved substantial growth. Wasserman Talent Solutions was named the 2024 Business to Watch.
Next Level of Excellence Award
The Next Level of Excellence Award is presented to a company that has exceeded SBA size standards and is continuing to excel and serve as an industry leader. The 2024 Next Level of Excellence Award was presented to AquaGuard.
