More than 300 people gathered Tuesday night to honor several people, including two local businesses, which were named small business and business of the year at the Bartlesville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 114th Annual Awards and Gala, held at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Tri County Tech was named the 2018 Business of the Year, sponsored by the Examiner-Enterprise. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Tri County Tech has been recognized for workplace and leadership practices by the Malcom Baldrige National Quality Award Program. For 13 consecutive years, the school has earned gold star recognition.

Two years in a row, Tri County Tech has earned honors from the Great Places to Work Institute and has been named by Fortune Magazine as a top 100 workplace for women in the United States.

Tri County Tech Superintendent/CEO Lindel Fields accepted the award.

“I’ve had the great pleasure to call Tri County Tech my home for 19 years, and what an honor it is to be recognized tonight,” Fields said. “Our vision at Tri County is simple — to inspire success through life-changing learning experiences. That’s what I get to do every day. Over those 19 years, tens of thousands of student lives have been transformed and it is because of the amazing educators that work at Tri County. I happen to think there’s nothing more noble than being a teacher, than being an educator.”

Rebranding and promotion of various programs, as well as demand for event and meeting facilities has led to a 49 percent increase in controllable revenues for Tri County Tech over the past three years. As a distinguished innovator, Tri County Tech is one of the few technical schools in that nation to operate without the need for federal funding.

Tri County Tech has 89 full-time and six part-time employees, along with over 100 adjunct instructors. Employees earn full benefits and give hundreds of hours of volunteer time throughout Nowata, Osage and Washington counties. The school has experienced a 73 percent increase in student enrollment, where over 70 percent of graduates continue to post-secondary education.

Career Employment Service was recognized Tuesday night as the 2018 Small Business of the Year. The family-owned and operated job-placement company was founded in the 1968 by Carmen Stanton, and has prospered through the past several years growing to be Bartlesville’s go-to place for career services. Career Employment Service offers a full range of staffing services, including temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct placement. Stanton accepted the award.

State Rep. Earl Sears was named as the 2018 Frank Phillips Award winner, Deb Cook received the Jim Gillie Outstanding Citizen Award, former Mary Martha Outreach Director Jamie Wood received the Ernie McAnaw Award, Bartlesville Public Schools Superintendent Chuck McCauley was named the winner of the 2018 Tom Shoemake Leadership Award, Christie Conditt received the Jake Bartles Award and Emily Allen-Worrell received the Rising Star Award.

Additionally, Leadership Bartlesville XXVII Class graduates were presented at the gala. The class is working to raise funds necessary for a custom outdoor art installation for the recently approved Tower Green between the Bartlesville Community Center and Price Tower Arts Center.