Local small businesses and members of the Huntsville business community were honored on the evening of September 12 at the 39th Annual Small Business Awards Gala. The event, hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, was held in the Von Braun Center’s Saturn Ballroom.

The glitzy evening began with a cocktail hour, which was followed by dinner and the presentation of awards.

Jeff Castle, Chief Meteorologist of WAAY-TV, and Valentina Iscaro, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at Alabama A&M University, served as the emcees for the event.

Chambers of Commerce from outside of the Huntsville area reviewed, scored, and judged nominees in each category.

The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber celebrated individuals and businesses in a number of categories, including young professional, veteran-owned, community impact, entrepreneurship, and more. As a testament to the size of Huntsville’s engineering and defense industry, three categories — small, medium, and large — were created to recognize success in the field.

H2L Solutions, Inc. won big on Thursday night. The company’s Vice President of Operations, Jacob Schreiber, took home the prize for Huntsville’s Young Professional of the Year. H2L Solutions, Inc. was recognized as the Professional and Technical Services Business of the Year.

Schreiber is a Huntsville native who comes from a family of small business owners and entrepreneurs.

“This award is more than just recognition; it’s a challenge to continue striving for excellence,” Schreiber told the Huntsville Business Journal. “I’m excited to see what the future holds and I’m grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact on our local community and our nation. Thank you to my colleagues, clients, mentors, and, most importantly, my amazing family.”

The award for Veteran-Owned Business of the Year went to Victory Solutions, Inc.

Valentina’s Pizzeria & Wine Bar bested five other nominees in the category of Hospitality Services Business of the Year.

AcqCentric, Inc. was recognized as the Minority-Owned Business of the Year. Angela Howald, CEO of AcqCentric, accepted the award.

“I’ve heard people say how shocked they are when they win, now I know what that feels like. First I’d like to thank my husband, Chuck Howald, who supports me every day. I invited him up here and he said, ‘No, you go up there. You’re the boss.’ So I’m up here alone … like a boss,” Howald said to laughter.

Howald went on to say that Huntsville is a great place to do business.

The Community Impact Award was a new category this year, with five nominees vying for the honor. This distinction went to Rocket City Mom. Lindsey Barron, Chief Operation Officer at Rocket City Mom, accepted the award.

“We are living our dream every single day by serving these communities, and I could not be more grateful for that opportunity,” said Barron. “Rocket City Mom has been a blessing for me and my family. My daughter is here tonight. She works every event with us. It is a family affair. It is not a job, it’s a lifestyle for us.”

The award for Retailer of the Year went to Sultry Company.

Audio and visual for the event was provided by Bluewood Productions.

A full list of the winners may be found by visiting hsvchamber.org/announcing-the-winners-of-the-39th-annual-small-business-awards.