Twenty-two companies, organizations and agencies will be honored March 26 by The Business Ledger as recipients of Annual Awards for Business Excellence (AABEs) for 2008.

The award recipients will be recognized at a reception starting at 4:30 p.m. at the Danada House, 3S501 Naperville Road, Wheaton.

The AABEs, given for business achievement, growth and community involvement, are being presented to suburban companies, business organizations and non-profits for the 18th time.

The recipients were selected by a panel of Business Ledger staff and event sponsors from more than 100 nominations.

By category, they are:

•Small Companies (50 or fewer employees)—B. Gunther & Company, Inc., Lisle; CMS Group, Inc., Aurora; D3 Financial Counselors, LLC, Downers Grove; Maddock Douglas, Inc., Elmhurst; Michael Franks, LLC, Palatine; RECI—Real Estate Consultants, Inc., Lombard.

•Medium-sized Companies (51-300 employees)—Geneca, LLC, Oakbrook Terrace; M&M Orthopaedics, Lisle.

•Business Organizations & Economic Development Entities—Lombard Public Facilities Corporation, Lombard; Will County Center for Economic Development, Joliet.

•Educational Programs—The Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn, Oak Lawn; Elgin Community College Corporate and Continuing Education, Elgin.

•Entertainment/Hospitality Companies—Prism Entertainment, Ltd., Burr Ridge.

•Ethnic Minority-Owned Businesses—Continental Financial, Broadview; Venecia Group, Inc., Aurora.

•Retail Businesses—The Promenade Bolingbrook, Bolingbrook.

•Trade Associations & Professional Societies—Building Owners and Managers Association of Suburban Chicago, Schaumburg; Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Authority of Northern Illinois, Downers Grove

•Notable Not-for-Profit Organizations—Home Aid Chicago, Addison; People’s Resource Center, Wheaton; Serenity House, Inc., Addison; The Conservation Foundation, Naperville.

Sponsors of the event are AM560 WIND, Arends, AT&T, Benedictine University, B. Gunther & Company, Inc., Business Initiative of Itasca Bank & Trust Co., and Tasty Catering.

Tickets are priced at $45. For more information, call 630-428-8788.