Bucci awarded Small Business Leader of the Year

GREENVILLE, NC (October 28, 2022) – Susan Bucci, owner of Painted Peacock Company in Greenville, was named the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 Small Business Leader of the Year during the Chamber’s Small Business Awards ceremony on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at the ECU Main Campus Student Center.  Painted Peacock Company houses both Painted Peacock Paint Your Own Pottery Studio and Peacock Prints & Clay.

Painted Peacock, located at 631 Red Banks Road, is a studio space that welcomes painters of every age and ability level to come in and find their creative side in a safe and fun environment through painting pottery.  The business prides itself on being an inclusive studio that encourages not only creativity, but time together with family and friends.

“Painted Peacock is a safe place to find your creative side and that is the most important part to me,” said Bucci.  “It is a great community space for people to come and be supported, no matter their ability level."

Bucci, a native of Illinois, arrived in Greenville in 2005 to pursue her MFA in metalsmithing.  After receiving her master’s degree, Bucci became the manager at Accidental Artist before taking over the business and renaming it Painted Peacock in 2014, with a mission to inspire happiness and creativity.

Painted Peacock Company also specializes in handprint art, which was the impetus behind the company’s second business, Peacock Prints & Clay, an online, handprint boutique creating customized art and pottery around a child’s handprint.  Bucci and her staff began capturing handprints during the coronavirus shutdown and the innovation quickly received attention nationwide.

Bucci’s community involvement includes her service as vice president of the Greenville Women’s League, an organization of women dedicated to serving and improving the lives of the citizens in the community through volunteer efforts and fellowship.  Bucci serves as chair of the Greenville Women’s League’s Bingo for Breast Cancer, which raised over $20,000 for Gardeners for Hope, a local non-profit that serves women undergoing breast cancer treatment.  Painted Peacock supports various fundraising efforts throughout the community.

Bucci is the 36th recipient of the chamber’s Small Business Leader of the Year Award, presented annually to recognize an individual leader from a company with 50 or less full-time employees who has not only demonstrated successful operation of his or her business, but who also has made significant contributions to the community and demonstrated business leadership.  Finalists are selected based off nominations from their peers.

Additional finalists for the 2021 Small Business Leader of the Year included Jon Gavigan, owner of The Gavigan Agency Insurance Services, and Cindy Taylor, owner of Carolina Therapy Connection.

The Small Business Leader of the Year Awards ceremony was presented by First Citizens Bank and Optimum Business.

For a list of past recipients of the Chamber’s Small Business Leader of the Year award, visit greenvillenc.org/smallbusinessawards.

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Media Contact:
Lauren Phillips, Director of Marketing & Communications
lauren@remove-thisgreenvillenc.org
(252) 752-4101 ext. 2228

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Susan Bucci (center) was named the Chamber's 2021 Small Business Leader of the Year during a ceremony on October 27.

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