Shai Tzabari, founder and owner of Olive My Pickle, won the JAX Chamber's 2015 Small Business Leader of the Year Award.
Launched in 2010, the natural food company produces and sells pickles, olives and hummus at area farmers markets and grocery stores, including Native Sun and Winn-Dixie.
When Tzabari came to the United States in his early 20s to travel and work, the opportunity he saw here awoke his inner entrepreneur, according to a news release. Working with his wife Charlotte, the business has grown to include an office and production facility and five farmers markets.
“Small business is the life blood of commerce in our community,” JAX Chamber President Daniel Davis said in the release. “The JAX Chamber is proud to honor an outstanding business leader who is dedicated to the local community. Congratulations, to Shai and Charlotte and the entire team at Olive My Pickle.”
Tzabari, who represents the chamber’s Downtown Council, was chosen for the top award from a group of 11 small business leaders selected by chamber regional councils, the Beaches Division and the Entrepreneurial Growth Division. Other division winners were:
• Rebecca Walden, First Coast Signs, Arlington Council
• Denise Wallace, BCM Services Inc., Beaches Division
• Dan Miller, GloDea, Entrepreneurial Growth Division
• Joe Joseph, Global Infonet, Jacksonville IT Council
• Jeane Sumner, Chasing Type, Mandarin Council
• Dallas Hempstead, Northwestern Mutual, North Council
• Marie Hope, Vision in Business, Professional Women’s Council
• Nico Hogeveen, GolfTEC, South Council
• Julie Dion, Dion Marketing Co., Transportation & Logistics Council
• Andy Bailes, Northeast Florida Janitorial & Maintenance Services Inc., West Council
Harry Frisch, chairman of Beaver Street Fisheries, was the keynote speaker for the breakfast.