BURBANK : Business Honoree Gives as Well as Gets

Bookkeeper Suzanne E. Cox, honored Wednesday as Small Business Person of the Year, figures that helping others is one way of settling your accounts.

“I was raised by a mother who felt you should give back what you receive,” said Cox, 52, who was selected from among thousands of small businesses in Burbank because of her volunteer work with local charities.

She opened Bookkeeping by Cox in Burbank 11 years ago and got started in charity work after answering an ad for a volunteer bookkeeper at the Burbank Temporary Aid Center, which dispenses food and other aid to the homeless and needy. Cox eventually joined the center’s board of directors.

She has since gotten involved in Burbank’s Business and Professional Women’s Assn., the Sunrise Rotary, Burbank Dodger Night, the Run for the Hungry and the Burbank Corp. for Youth, to which she donates office space.

“I feel like I’m doing some good,” said Cox, who added that her inclination for volunteering comes from her small-town upbringing. Cox, who is from Chico, Calif., was drawn to Burbank because of its small-town feeling.

Two years ago, the poor economy forced Cox to scale back her business from three employees to only one. But with being honored as Small Business Person of the Year, Cox said, she was hopeful that the business was about to turn the corner.

Last year’s winner, George Domet of Merit Engineering, reported a 250% increase in business and his architectural-engineering firm has grown from 21 to 39 employees, according to the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, the award’s sponsor. But Domet doesn’t solely credit the award for the business boost.

“I’m sure there will be a financial pay-back eventually,” Cox said. “But emotionally, it has already had a tremendous impact.”

About 50 people were on hand for Cox’s award breakfast at the Castaway restaurant in Burbank.