As I open the proverbial envelope to announce the winners of Leader Publications’ 2017 Best of the Best Readers’ Choice contest, I feel immensely proud to be a part of the Michiana community.

With just shy of 6,000 ballots cast, it is clear that the people who reside in Berrien, Cass and St. Joseph counties fully support local business and the shop local movement.

After several hours of tallying up ballots cast, it is finally time to unveil the winners. Inside your newspaper today, you will learn who your fellow community members believe stands out from the competition.

No matter how many times Leader Publications facilitates this contest, I am continuously in awe of the amount of businesses who plant their roots in southwest Michigan and northern Indiana.

The diverse selection of businesses is evident in this contest. We have such a wide variety of businesses that there are more than 100 categories to vote in — enough to give all business owners a chance at earning the recognition they so deserve.

The businesses listed in this section are represented because of outstanding customer service, great products or service, good prices and quality experiences.

In addition to the dozens of local businesses receiving awards this year, hundreds of other Michiana businesses were nominated for recognition. Whether they took home a medal this year or not, any individual who chooses to invest in this community by opening a business is a winner in my book.

In addition to local businesses, several individuals who help operate those establishments are recognized in the following pages. Find out who the best server is, according to the popular vote. Learn who our community believes is the best eye doctor in town, or who makes the best cocktail at the local bar.

We could not have chosen our judges for this contest any better. The results that follow are solely the result of the best judges around — the people who know them best because they frequent they spend their hard-earned pay checks with the businesses. These winners are based 100 percent on votes from the community. The Leader Publications staff simply tallied up ballots cast on paper or on our website.

We hope you will join us in congratulating all of these businesses and thanking them for their service to the community.

Can I get a drum roll please?

Ambrosia Neldon is the general manager at Leader Publications. She can be reached by phone at (269) 687-7700, or by email at ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com.