BELLINGHAM - A longtime construction company and a sports franchise were among the winners at the eighth annual awards banquet hosted by the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Ram Construction of Bellingham won the 2012 Large Business of the Year award, while the Bellingham Bells won in the Small Business of the Year category.

The banquet was held Wednesday evening, Dec. 5, at Best Western Lakeway Inn & Conference Center.

Ken Hertz and Peggy Zoro were honored as Man of the Year and Woman of the Year. Prior to the banquet, Blue Skies for Children was named Nonprofit of the Year, and Sanitary Service Co. won Green Business of the Year. A new award, Tourism Partner of the Year, was given to San Juan Cruises.

Founded in 1992 by Mike Hammes, Ram Construction employs 43 people and specializes in commercial construction and site development. The Bellingham Bells, a collegiate summer baseball team, started in 1999 and attracts local, regional and national players.

Hertz, a former two-term Bellingham mayor, was also a managing director of real estate for Trillium Corp. from 1984 into the 1990s. Today he operates Blossom Management Corp., which manages and develops commercial and residential projects.

Zoro had a 40-year career, mostly in banking, working in leadership roles at several banks, including Security Pacific Bank, KeyBank and Wells Fargo. She is chair of Western Washington University's board of trustees and was past chair of the Bellingham/Whatcom County Economic Development Council. Most recently she has been director of the Northwest Economic Council.

After years of traveling to Victoria, B.C., San Juan Cruises made a major adjustment to its business and now focuses on touring the local islands with a stop at Friday Harbor. It has also added a variety of evening cruises that have been popular with local residents.

Reach DAVE GALLAGHER at dave.gallagher@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2269.