Russell McLelland Brown Lawyers continued its golden run by being named Crown St Mall's Retailer/Business of the Year just three months after managing partner, Craig Osborne, was named Illawarra Business Person of the Year at the Illawarra Business Chamber's regional business awards.

Last night's other big winners were IMB branch manager John Petkovski, who was named Employee of the Year for excellent customer service while Myer and Surf Dive 'n Ski took out the Illawarra Mercury Shoppers Choice Awards.

Wollongong City Centre general manager, Paul Fanning, said an independent panel from outside the region judged the awards and all finalists were visited secretly by a nationally accredited organisation specialising in customer service.

The judges said RMB Lawyers had served the Illawarra for 122 years, and remained a legal firm of distinction and integrity - a shining beacon of excellence, not only for its legal skills and services, but for its success as a profitable organisation.

RMB has tripled its business turnover and staff levels during the last seven years, and the judging panel was impressed by the spectrum of innovative legal services it provided.

The judges were impressed with how RMB Lawyers involved all stakeholders, such as clients, staff and the community, in its business and how staff were motivated, trained, nurtured and given ownership of the firm's success through an innovative internal business school.

They described Mr Osborne as an unique team leader with superb people orientation and consummate strategic, legal and business skills.

Similar praise was reserved for John Petkovski, senior branch manager at IMB's Crown St Mall branch.

Mr Petkovski enjoyed his job with a passion and was an outstanding employee, the judges said. He has also been named IMB Lender of the Year for two successive years.

The panel was impressed by how he worked on all levels of the branch, his professional nature and a personal touch that saw him go the extra mile for customers.