Michelle Smith - Fire couldn't scorch her Chocolate Dreams

When a fire gutted sections of the historic Devon House in 2010, and with it the home of Chocolate Dreams, it was not able to scorch the dream of Michelle Smith, chief executive officer of Chocolate Dreams.

Within six months, Smith and her team emerged from the ashes and were ready to soar like the proverbial phoenix.

Smith said that she had been in business as a sole proprietor since 2004 but formed a company in 2009.

"The store at Devon House went up in flames within a year of its opening. I was devastated," she recalled. "We rebuilt in six weeks and were opened back for Christmas. That was the best part."

The hurdles overcome, Smith is revelling in the knowledge that she is one of the recipients of the Gleaner Honour Awards for 2015.

But in the midst of the celebration of her accomplishments, Smith's resilience was summoned to the fore with the passing of her father.

For her, it was a bittersweet period. "It's been a little emotional, but I am very happy to have received this award from The Gleaner," she said. "It is a little overwhelming. I am proud and extremely happy about it."