Traverse City Chamber Unveils Business Of The Year

A company that provides home and bath products to some of the country’s largest retailers and outlets was named the 2019 Hagerty Small Business of the Year by the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce.

Venturi, founded by President and owner Tim Dutmers in 2002, was one of three businesses honored Monday night at the Small Business Celebration Awards Ceremony at Northwestern Michigan College’s Hagerty Center. In addition to Venturi, the Chamber also honored Anavon Technology Group in Traverse City with the SBC Summit Award, while 123 Speakeasy was awarded the SBC Emerging Business Award.

Todd Key, director of client services and retention for Hagerty, serves on the SBC panel of judges. He says Venturi stood out at the Small Business Celebration Candidates’ Showcase as employees displayed the various ways they’re empowered to innovate, from product development to sales, fulfillment and servicing. Venturi sells a variety of home and bath safety products, including its first product, TarGard cigarette filters. They are sold through some of the country’s largest retailers, such as Bed Bath & Beyond, Meijer, Menards and the QVC home shopping network. Venturi received statewide recognition in 2018 as one of the “Michigan 50 Companies to Watch” by the Michigan Celebrates Small Business Awards.

Previous Chamber Small Business of the Year recipients include Superior Physical Therapy, Image 360, Studio 415 Salon, Pine Hill Nursery & Landscaping and Oryana Natural Foods Market.