Chamber leaders with winners and sponsors of the 2012 Diamond Awards. Photo by Alberto Romeu

The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce honored honored excellence in business at the 2012 Diamond Awards presented by Montica Jewelry on Thursday, Nov. 1. CBS 4’s Lissette Gonzalez served as mistress of ceremonies at the annual awards luncheon, which was held at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables.

The chamber’s signature awards program, the chamber’s Diamond Awards each year honor excellence in business achievement, corporate citizenship, customer service and workplace environment. This year’s winners, by category, are:

Hearts on Fire Award (large business)

City National Bank

Princess of Hearts Award (small/medium business)

ProMD Practice Management

Diamond in the Rough Award (emerging business)

S.T.A.R.S. School for Autism

Outstanding Non-Profit Award

Seraphic Fire & Firebird Chamber Orchestra

Minority-Owned Business Award

Sonshine Communications

Outstanding Restaurant Award

Cibo Wine Bar

Ideal Workplace Award

Guardianship Program of Dade County

“Each business that was chosen for these prestigious awards stand out as brilliant examples of the Coral Gables business community. We are proud of all of the finalists and congratulate the winners for outshining the competition,” said John O’Rourke III, owner of Montica Jewelry and title sponsor.

“It was an absolute honor to have received this honor from such a prestigious organization like the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. I am grateful and humbled by it dearly,” said Bernadette Morris, president & CEO of Sonshine Communications and winner of the Minority-Owned Business Award.

“I am very honored to accept this award on behalf of our staff, dedicated board of directors and mostly on behalf of the clients we serve. Quality in the work place is generated by the people that work with us and have the difficult task of caring for a very vulnerable population. I thank the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce for recognizing the great work that the Guardianship Program does in Miami-Dade County,” said Jerry Santeiro, executive director of the Guardianship Program of Dade County and winner of the Princess of Hearts Award.

The 2012 Diamond Awards were presented by Montica Jewelry and sponsored by the city of Coral Gables, Envision Possibilities, City National Bank, Logistical Outsourcing and U.S. Century Bank. In-kind support was provided by Belle Fleur, Frameworks, Hyatt Regency Coral Gables and Photo Offset. The media sponsor for this event was South Florida Business Journal.

The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce represents more than 1,500 members and is the second-largest business association in Miami-Dade County.  Its mission is to foster and enhance the economic interests of the Coral Gables community, while advancing the quality of life of its members, partners, neighbors and visitors.

For more information, visit www.coralgableschamber.org or follow the chamber on Facebook at www.facebook/coralgableschamber.