Southwest Office Systems, Inc. has received the 2017 Small Business of the Year Award from the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. Buddy Puente and Vince E. Puente, Sr. accepted the award at Mayor Betsy Price’s State of the City address at the Fort Worth Convention Center February 22.

Southwest Office Systems, Inc. was chosen from a field of 147 nominees in four categories based on number of employees. The four categories include, Emerging, 1-10 employees, 11-50 employees, and 51-150 employees. Southwest Office Systems, Inc. was in the 51-150 employee category along with two other finalists. Criteria for the award are business growth and performance, sound business strategies and practices, customer service strategies, business challenges, unique and innovative approaches, and community involvement.

“Over the years, we have been blessed to be recognized by various organizations around DFW, the state, and even nationally, but none is as sweet as being recognized by one’s own community,” said Vince E. Puente, Sr., President of Sales & Marketing. “We are incredibly honored the Fort Worth Chamber and this community recognized the SOS Team.”

Southwest Office Systems, Inc. is a premier document technology company servicing North Texas and ranks in the top 3% of all independent document technology dealers in the nation. Southwest Office Systems, Inc. plans to aggressively pursue an increase in revenue-generating team members, expanding product offerings and services, as well as maintain a positive presence in the Fort Worth community.

“Small businesses may not make big headlines, but they are the foundation of a thriving economy,” said Sherry Green, chairman of the Chamber’s Small Business Council committee and president of Technology Team, a previous award winner. “These passionate and determined business owners reflect the pioneering spirit of our city and the diversity of Fort Worth’s business base.”

Each finalist was judged by a panel of Fort Worth Chamber business owners and professionals, most of them past award winners. Top entrepreneurial students from Texas Christian University’s Neeley School of Business were also among the judges.

Northstar Bank is presenting sponsor of the Small Business of the Year Awards. Additional sponsors of the program are BB&T, Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty, Clifton Larsen Allen (CLA), TCU’s Neeley School of Business, Tarleton State University-Fort Worth, Wells Fargo, Cendera Center and Fort Worth Business.

More information about Southwest Office Systems may be found at https://sostexas.com/ or visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SouthwestOfficeSystems/.


Mike Marusic, Chief Operating Officer of Sharp Electronics, Recognized as 2017 CRN® Channel Chief