Interactive Achievement Is Chamber's Small Business of Year

Interactive Achievement's Jonathan Hagmaier (left) talks to Ken Ferris. At right are bicycle shop owners Michelle and Aaron Dykstra. Below, former Advocate of the Year Lynda Foster with new winner Brian Duvall. Bottom is John Garland of Spectrum, the construction guy of the year.

The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce and Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center have named Interactive Achievement the 2011 Small Business of the Year before a sold out ballroom at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center.

The company that creates and distributes educational software used for testing, reporting and analyzing students was recognized at the Chamber's's 25th Annual Small Business Awards dinner.

The annual awards program showcases the accomplishments of the small business sector which is composed of 99 percent of the area’s business community.

Founded in 2006 by Jonathan Hagmaier, a middle-school teacher and principal, Mary Hagmaier, a realtor, and Matthew Muller, a software programmer, Interactive Achievement has experienced phenomenal growth in product sales, revenue and number of employees. The company’s major product is assessment software used by school districts in Virginia and South Carolina.

“As in years past, the selection committee was faced with a very difficult decision because of the number of outstanding companies represented in the competition,” said Joyce Waugh, president of the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Waugh continued, “The Small Business Awards selection committee was impressed with how Interactive Achievement has increased sales and its number of employees, as well as its innovative product line.” A committee of local business people evaluates nominees in terms of increased sales, employee growth, staying power, innovation, and contributions to the community.

Award winners by category are:

• Small Business Advocate: Brian Duvall, CEO, Duvall Media
• Small Business Veteran of the Year: Ray Puckett, At Home Caregivers Inc.
• Construction/Real Estate: Spectrum Design architectural/engineering design firm
• Manufacturing: Virginia Transformer Corporation a processor of electric power transformers in North America
• Micro-Business: Nevaeh Salon Services
• Technology: Interactive Achievement
• Business-to-Business Services: Virginia Business Systems which provides technology and software to help businesses manage documents
• Business-to-Consumer Services: Varsity Landscaping & Grounds
• Wholesale/Retail: East Coasters Bike Shop
• Legacy Award: AmRhein’s, the Roanoke Valley’s oldest jeweler (90 years) and now also a winery.
• Not-for-Profit Arts & Culture: The Roanoke Regional Partnership
• Not-for-Profit Health & Human Services: Goodwill Industries of the Valleys