Nederland Chamber of Commerce 2009 President Don Pumphrey introduces Nederland's 2009 SBA Acheivement Award Honoree Shanna Ferro, owner of Boston Avenue's The Candle Cottage, during Wednesday's ceremony at Lamar University.
MIKE TOBIAS / The Port Arthur News
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DAVID BALL
The Port Arthur News
BEAUMONT
The theme for the 2009 Small Business Achievement Award program was Champions Building America One Business At A Time, and many of the recipients discussed what it took to rebound from Hurricane Ike.
The communities of Groves, Nederland, Port Arthur and Port Neches were represented at the ceremony Wednesday afternoon at the John Gray Library at Lamar University-Beaumont. The event was sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Golden Triangle Minority Business Council.
Tricia Hernandez, owner of Tricia’s Hair Salon in Groves won the award after being selected by her chamber of commerce.
She thanked her family, friends, clients and the chamber for selecting her. She also thanked Hurricane Ike for giving her a new salon after it was remodeled and reopened.
“My parents told me I could do it and my father-in-law, Gil, told me I had got to get bigger. I was working alone before seven years. I have great girls (working at the salon),” Hernandez said through tears.
Bard Corley, Groves Chamber president, said Hernandez began her business 18 years ago and purchased her current building on Main Avenue in 2000. She renovated the building and re-renovated after Ike.
Shanna Ferro, owner of The Candle Cottage was this year’s winner from Nederland.
“We have a candle scent called Hope from our inspiration line. We pour five days a week and the scent gets in our clothes and in our hair, so we’re walking advertisement,” Ferro said. “I think there’s a scent of hope and emotion in this room. We’re on the right path for our business journey. But it’s not just me who made it happen. I want to thank my staff for making mine and their dreams come true.”
Ferro added her son Drake is in the fifth grade and competing in a track meet the same time as the small business ceremony, so she would rush to see the meet because it was important to her.
She also thanked the Nederland Chamber of Commerce, the city, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Nederland Economic Development Corporation for their assistance.
“There’s somebody out there to help you,” she said.
Chamber President Don Pumphrey said Ferro began her business from home, operating out of the garage. Her husband encouraged her to make her own candles and expand the business.
Customers soon began ordering them from all over the nation and Ferro moved her business from her home to a location first on Nederland Avenue and then Boston Avenue. Last year, she opened a brand new shop on Boston Avenue.
In addition to candles, the shop carries bath and body products, vintage gifts and handmade jewelry.
Conrad Cooper of the Small Business Development Center at Lamar State College-Port Arthur said Jerry’s Automotive and Front End has been a pillar of the Port Arthur community for years — through strikes, hurricanes and economic downturns.
