Washington, DC – DC Access, LLC, took home the HILLY for Service Provider of the Year at the first annual HILLY Awards, held on November 20 in the North Hall at historic Eastern Market.
More than 200 members of the Capitol Hill community gathered at the inaugural HILLYS event, which was emceed by Chuck Burger and featured a red-carpeted entrance, complete with local paparazzi from The Hill is Home, VOICE of the Hill, and the Hill Rag. The HILLYS were hosted by CHAMPS, Capitol Hill’s Chamber of Commerce. CHAMPS promotes, educates and advocates for Capitol Hill businesses and connects Hill businesses with the greater community.
In August and September, the Capitol Hill community was invited to nominate businesses for Restaurant/Café of the Year, Retailer of the Year, Service Provider of the Year, and Best New Business.
During October, more than 1,600 votes were cast by community members to determine who would take home the HILLY in these four categories. Winners in six more HILLY categories were selected by the CHAMPS board.
DC Access provides Wireless Internet access to more than 500 residential and commercial clients in DC, with a focus on serving Capitol Hill. This year marks the 10th anniversary of DC Access, which is owned and operated by the husband-and-wife team of Matt Wade and Martha Huizenga.
“Because we live and work in the community we serve, people know us as neighbors, and we strive to maintain that sense of connectedness in the way we run our business,” Wade says. “Receiving the HILLY confirms that our customers really appreciate what we’re doing.”
In addition to growing their business, Wade and Huizenga are committed to strengthening and supporting the local community, often donating or discounting their time and expertise to support high-impact projects. They also are strong proponents of smart growth and small business development on Capitol Hill.
DC Access was one of the sponsors for the HILLY Awards, and Huizenga currently serves on the CHAMPS board in an ex-officio capacity.
“It was truly an honor to have the Hill community recognize our business, but it was even more rewarding to see so many people get involved in making the HILLYS a success,” Huizenga says. “We look forward to the second annual HILLYS, and we thank everyone who voted and all the sponsors and volunteers who helped make it such a great event.”
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