The Summit, held in Washington, D.C., was attended by company owner’s Pam and Michael Gantt. Award winners received their certificate from Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the U.S. House, during a breakfast honoring their achievement.

In addition, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Frederick W. Smith, chairman, president and CEO of FedEx Frederick W. Smith, also spoke.

The Small Business Blue Ribbon Award, sponsored by AIG, was designed to honor businesses that showed excellence in a variety of selection criteria, including financial performance and business history, staff training and motivation, community involvement, customer service, and business planning. The U.S. Chamber is the world’s largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

Key Mortgage serves North Carolina, with its primary location in Southern Pines. It has branch offices in Morehead City and New Bern and a representative in the Sanford and Fayetteville markets