Jim Fair
Dr. William Steigerwald of Southern Eye Associates, center, accepted the Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce Small Business for 2014. Mark Owens, left, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce, presents the award with Ken Harper, Chairman of the Executive Board.
Jim Fair
Dr. William Steigerwald shares the award with Southern Eye Associates staff Felicia Murphy marketing director, left, and Caitlin Reese, marketing manager.
Smith & James, the oldest continuing business in downtown, was honored with the Mayor’s Award.
Southern Eye Associates is located at the Greer Memorial Hospital campus. It has six board certified ophthalmologists and the practice founded Surgeons for Sight, a faith-based non-profit that helps disadvantaged people receive the eye care they need to lead productive lives. A second office is located in Greenville.
“They are certainly committed to the area with eye care and their work with Surgeons for Sight,” said Mark Owens, vice president of the chamber.
Steigerwald said Southern Eye Associates is sensitive to eye care that translates into a better quality of life. “Some people may just need a pair of glasses because they can’t get a job if they can’t read.”
Doctors and staff visited the Dominican Republic twice last year to aid the disadvantaged.
The faith-based business, Steigerwald said, finds its patients welcome the comfort doctors and associates share before surgeries and during examinations. “We all believe God has called us to this community. It’s what drew me to this practice years ago.”
Owens Insurance received the small business honor last year. Mark Owens said the state Small Business Administration recognized Owens Insurance of the best overall small office in South Carolina.