Small businesses are the backbone of our local and national economies, representing more than 95 percent of all employers, creating three-fourths of all new jobs, and accounting for more than one-half of the nation’s gross domestic product. The Hampton Roads Chamber has a team of outside experts select a Small Business of the Year for each city and then one Regional Winner! On May 2, 2023, the Hampton Roads Chamber celebrated all of our winners and crowned the Regional Small Business of the Year which will now be placed in consideration for the U.S. Chamber Small Business of the Year Awards Competition.

This year’s 2023 Small Business of the Year is Mode5 located in Ghent, Norfolk. Established by Luke Downing and Matt Bakey in 2002, Mode5 has been providing world-class technology services to small and mid-sized businesses in Hampton Roads and surrounding areas including Richmond, Roanoke, and Northern Virginia/D.C. areas. Mode5 has developed robust, proactive Managed IT and Cloud Solutions. They offer clients enterprise-class IT services at a small business price.

​We would like to congratulate each of the Small Business of the Year winners and all of our award recipients!

2023 Small Business of the Year Chesapeake
Cross Underground Development, LLC

2023 Small Business of the Year Norfolk
Mode5

2023 Small Business of the Year Peninsula
American Pride Automotive

2023 Small Business of the Year Portsmouth
SimIs Inc.

2023 Small Business of the Year Suffolk
Embroidery and Print House LLC

2023 Small Business of the Year Virginia Beach
MidAtlantic Surveying and Land Design

2023 Small Business Champion Award
Blair Durham of Black BRAND

2023 Non-Profit Award
Girls on the Run Hampton Roads

2023 Top To Watch
Magazine Jukebox, Inc

Visit the Hampton Roads Chamber for upcoming events and more event recaps.