FiveStar Awards and Engraving

Our Story

We are committed to building relationships with our customers for the long haul and are humbled that some of our very first customers from more than 20 years ago do business with us to this day. Our artwork, engraving, and etching are done in house—we are not a third party supplier.
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Unlike many awards businesses, FiveStar did not evolve from a family business or a history of trophy building—although FiveStar is now very much a family business! Lisa and husband Jeff together own FiveStar, and they create a family-style culture for their employees.
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Our team has more than 35 combined years of industry experience and stays involved with continuing education and new technology, so we can provide these services to our customers.

Industry Involvement

FiveStar belongs to the Awards and Personalization Association (APA) and Lisa actively contributes to the industry through her membership on several national committees. In 2021, after six years of serving on the association’s Board of Directors, she became President of the international association and served in this capacity through 2022. A passionate advocate for industry education, Lisa chaired the APA Education Committee for 2 years, and served as a Trustee on the Board of the Awards and Recognition Industry Educational Foundation (ARIEF).

Industry Accolades

The ultimate recognition, in Lisa’s opinion, is to be celebrated by your industry. Being awarded the 2012 Small Business Retailer of the Year was just that for the FiveStar team. APA presents one coveted gold obelisk per year each to a small and large business from the association’s international membership. FiveStar added a second obelisk to the collection when Lisa was awarded the 2018 Volunteer of the Year gold obelisk. And in 2019, FiveStar received a clear obelisk for Best Retailer Website.The pinnacle to these was added to the FiveStar gold obelisk collection when Lisa was surprised and humbled to be named the recipient of the industry’s Founders Award in 2023. The Founders Award is the second highest honor bestowed by the association.

Community Accolades

FiveStar was named Small Business of the Year in 2020 by the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce. Also in 2020, Lisa was named one of five Women of Western Wake, after a challenging year and a Covid pivot. FiveStar produced Halos For Heroes, making face shields and distributing them in partnership with a Rotary District grant to area assisted living facilities, regional hospitals, and groups that were underserved by available PPE.

Education is Priority

Every year, our team attends the APA International Awards and Personalization Expo in Las Vegas. In addition to sourcing new ideas, seeing industry products and technology, and spending time with suppliers and friends from across the world, we go to the show for continuing education opportunities. We also attend some other smaller educational events across the country, but the Vegas event is by far the largest. When possible, we take members of our team so they can receive the educational opportunities first hand.

Community Service

We are firmly committed to giving back. Lisa and Jeff are members of Rotary International, proud members of Rotary District 7710, where they serve as members of the Cary-Kildaire Rotary Club. They are members of the Rotary Foundation’s Bequest Society, Paul Harris Society, as well as being Major Donors. Lisa will serve as Rotary District Governor 2025-2026 for District 7710. 

They have hosted multiple youth exchange students, and are involved with the Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center as a host family. On a business and personal level, they are supporters of Operation Coming Home and other service organizations. The company is also actively involved with the Apex and Morrisville Chambers of Commerce.