Sergenian’s CEO Garner to Receive Chamber’s Inaugural “Ground Floor Award” for Small Business Leadership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (November 30, 2016)

Contact: Erik Greenfield, Communications Manager, 608-443-1952 (office), 608-669-7884 (cell)

MADISON – The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce announced today that Jim Garner, CEO of Sergenian’s Floor Coverings, will receive the Chamber’s inaugural Ground Floor Award for small business leadership. The award, which recognizes true champions for small business both within their business and in the community, will be presented during a special nex7 event Dec. 14 at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMOCA).

“The Chamber’s motto is ‘Business. Community. Leadership.’ and that is Jim Garner personified,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “Throughout his career, Jim has been a mentor, an advocate and a major contributor in Greater Madison’s small business community. His hard work, innovation and leadership have made the Chamber, our businesses and our economy stronger.”

Jim Garner joined Sergenian’s in 1963 and today serves as the company’s CEO and a majority partner. Under Garner’s leadership, Sergenian’s has won numerous awards based on quality and service and is now one of the top 50 floor covering retailers in the country. Garner and Sergenian’s started Wisconsin’s first and only comprehensive carpet reclamation program, which has kept more than 11 million pounds of carpet and padding out of landfills.

Garner serves on the Chamber’s Executive Committee and has been a Chamber Board member for more than 20 years. As founding chairperson of the Chamber’s Small Business Advisory Council (SBAC), an advisory committee to the Chamber’s leadership and the Mayor of the City of Madison, he led several citywide initiatives to support small businesses, including development of the Madison Small Business Conference and implementation of process changes to improve road construction in addition to the creation of a nationally adopted road construction survival guide for small businesses.

Garner has also held leadership roles with the Metropolitan Neighborhood Business Council and South Metropolitan Business Association. He was inducted into the InBusiness Hall of Fame in 2012.

“It is a great honor to receive the Chamber’s first-ever Ground Floor Award,” said Garner. “It means a lot to be commended by an organization that serves as the voice of nearly 1,300 businesses in the Greater Madison area.”

In addition to the presentation of the Ground Floor Award, nex7 will also feature compelling pitches from the seven finalists for the Chamber’s inaugural Most Innovative Company (MIC) Award. The MIC finalists represent a diverse cross-section of industries, missions and locations across Greater Madison. The winner will be determined by audience vote.

To register for this free event, visit: www.greatermadisonchamber.com.

About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with nearly 1,300 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 9,500 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at greatermadisonchamber.com.

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