The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce presented its Best in Business Awards Oct. 18, honoring local businesses as well as restaurateur Bill Blackburn as the 2017 Business Leader of the Year.

Held at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, awards were presented in the following categories: Association/Nonprofit Business of the Year — Rebuilding Together Alexandria; Rising Star Business of the Year — Four Directions Wellness; Small Business of the Year — GEICO NOVA Local Office; Medium Business of the Year (tie) — Fleet Transportation and VIPdesk Connect, Inc; Large Business of the Year — United Bank; and Overall Business of the Year – Ironistic.

Blackburn, of the Home Grown Restaurant Group that operates Pork Barrel BBQ, Holy Cow, the Sushi Place and Sweet Fire Donna’s, follows in the footsteps of his partner, “Mango” Mike Anderson, who was honored as Business Leader of the Year in 1999.

See www.alexchamber.com.