The Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort and eShore received the Business of the Year and Small Business of the Year awards, respectively during the second annual Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards on Oct. 27 at The Ritz-Carlton.

The Marriott was recognized for the development of their Beach House experience, rebranding and repositioning of the Anchor & Den restaurant, as well as their dedication to the development of their staff, the Chamber of Commerce said.

Cybersecurity firm eShore was commended for increasing awareness of cybersecurity through training opportunities for businesses, students and parents and hosting the Armour Expo, which provided participants with information about new cyberthreats and the dangers and realities of cybercrime.

Entrepreneur of the Year

Lindsay Allen, owner of Island Naturals, a local café and health food store on West Bay Road, received the inaugural Entrepreneur of the Year award. Ms. Allen used her savings to open a small retail store that catered to health-conscious consumers and those needing quick and healthy food choices in 2012. The business is now one of Cayman’s largest health and wellness brands, and includes a natural food restaurant and employs 25 staff.

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Commitment to Education Award

Dart Enterprises Ltd. and Health City Cayman Islands each received a Commitment to Education Award for their commitment to supporting and implementing programs for the development of local talent, the Chamber said.

Dart’s “Minds Inspired” initiative is an education enrichment program for high school students that maintains a focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects. Since its launch in 2012, the program has provided scholarships to students who achieve academic success in STEM subjects. The program also offers much more for students with initiatives such as Mathematics Challenges, the SeaPerch Underwater Robotics program and the MI Summer Engineering Academy. Higher learning opportunities are also provided through scholarships and internships.

Meanwhile, Health City Cayman Islands was recognized for exposing students to the diverse aspects of modern medicine.

Founded in 2014, the Healthcare Explorers Program is already well-established, and the overall STEM focus is allowing an ever-increasing number of young people insight into the health facility’s operations, fostering their passion for the sciences.

Health City’s education initiatives are aimed at a wide range of students with a variety of programs designed specifically for certain age groups.

Community Impact Award

Yello Media Group received top honors in the Community Impact category for its Yellow2Green program.

The campaign has resulted in extensive exposure, especially involving young people to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Through partnerships with other companies, their directories are shipped off-island to be converted into other useful products.

Marketing Campaign of the Year

Vagabond Media Group (VMG) won the Marketing Campaign of the Year award for the development of Car City’s new Jeep Wrangler promotional launch. VGM developed the most famous dog in Cayman campaign, which saw over 200 people send in photos of their furry friends for consideration as the face of Jeep.

Using a multimedia platform approach, the company created explainer videos and boosted posts across all social media platforms. VMG ensured that the new Jeep Wrangler was seen by over 20,000 people, increasing brand awareness and sales leads for Car City in the process.