Awards highlighted excellence in entrepreneurship
Monday September 10, 2007
Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation, Eastern Kentucky University’s College of Business and Technology, and The Center for Rural Development presented the 2007 Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards (EIEA) this fall to four organizations.
The annual award was established in 2001 to honor excellence in entrepreneurship throughout Eastern and Southern Kentucky. Awards were presented in four categories - business, small business, start-up, and nonprofit business - and were determined by the economic success of the enterprise, contributions to the community, job creation and operational achievement as measured by innovative business practices, superior safety achievement and superior technology.
"We're working together to create a strategy of diversifying the economy and supporting homegrown talent, who are more likely to keep their operations in the area rather than move out of state or out of the country," said Jerry Rickett, chairman of the Center for Rural Development and president & CEO of KHIC. "Organizations like the ones we've honored at these awards are proof positive that an economy grown by Kentuckians and for Kentuckians is a successful one."
Here are the winners and finalists in each category:
For-profit business
- Award recipient: Stephen P. Branscum, president, Branscum Construction Co., Inc. of Russell Springs.
- Finalists: Masato Suzimura, president/owner, Lincoln Manufacturing USA, LCC, Stanford; and Brian Walters, president/CEO, Premier Drug Testing, Russell Springs.
For-Profit Small Business
- Award recipient: Barbara Napier, owner, Snug Hollow Bed & Breakfast, Irvine.
- Finalists: Steve Taylor, president, EST Tool and Machine, Inc., Brodhead; and Macklin Cox, vice-president/COO, Energy Associates, Inc., Richmond.
Start-Up Business
- Award recipient: Lowell Land, president, Acres of Land Winery, Richmond.
- Finalists: Brant Poore, president, and Raymond Sears, vice-president, Information Capture Solutions, LLC, Williamsburg; and Brian Floyd and Scott Floyd, owners, Floyd Industries, LLC, Liberty.
Not-For-Profit Entity
- Award recipient: Wilma Kelly, executive director, Beattyville Housing and Development Corp., Inc, Beattyville.
- Finalists: Stephanie Richards, artistic director, Artists Collaborative Theater, Elkhorn City; and Debbie Long, executive director, God's Food Pantry of Pulaski County, Somerset.
Eastern Kentucky University Interim President Dr. Doug Whitlock served as emcee for the event, and 5th District Congressman Hal Rogers provided the keynote address to the more than 200 attendees.
The program also included the naming of the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Collegiate Business Concept Challenge award recipient. The team of Lauren Hale and Patricia Holly from Eastern Kentucky University earned first place honors with their "Injecto Seed" project. The faculty sponsor and advisor for the project, Professor Bill Davig of EKU, received an award for his role. In addition, EKU received an award as the sponsoring institution.
The first place team in the Youth Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute Business Concept Competition was also recognized and presented with certificates and a special EKU Presidential Scholarship offer, which was valued at half of a full semester tuition and extendable for up to eight months for each of the four honorees. Team members were Rebekah Smith of Johnson Count, Michael Wright of Lincoln County, Kenna Trent of Rowan County and Richie Mathes of Whitley County.
Sponsoring Partners of the 2007 EIEA were the Eastern Kentucky University College of Business and Technology, Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation and The Center for Rural Development.
Contributing Partners for the event were AT&T at the platinum level, PSR Group at the gold level and the Eastern Kentucky University Masters of Business Administration Program at the bronze level. Any individuals or businesses with an interest in supporting the encouragement and growth of Kentucky's entrepreneurial community are encouraged to visit www.eiea.eku.edu and click the "contact us" link.
For more information on the 2008 EIEA program and nomination forms please visit www.eiea.eku.edu. EIEA information can also be found on the Web at www.centertech.com by following the EIEA links.