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17 Aug 2009
The region’s business, entrepreneurial leaders to be recognized at 2009 Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards Sept. 14 at The Center for Rural Development
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The spirit of entrepreneurship and those who play an important role in growing the region’s economy will be recognized Sept. 14 at the 2009 Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards (EIEA) program at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset, Ky.
This year’s finalists and award winners will be recognized at a luncheon set for Sept. 14 at 11:30 a.m. at The Center. Now in its eighth year, EIEA recognizes business owners and entrepreneurs in 55 Kentucky counties for their economic success, community contributions, and operational achievements in a business or non-profit organization.
The awards program is sponsored by Eastern Kentucky University’s (EKU) College of Business and Technology, Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation, and The Center for Rural Development.
Tickets to the event are $20 per person and may be purchased by contacting The Center at 606-677-6000 or via e-mail at enea@centertech.com. Reservations must be made by Aug. 31.
EKU President Dr. Doug Whitlock will serve as emcee, and Ken Robinson, Deputy Commissioner of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development’s Department for Business Development, will deliver the keynote address.
The program was established in 2001 to celebrate excellence in entrepreneurship by recognizing business leaders and entrepreneurs throughout the region who have created and are managing a successful enterprise.
“We’ve seen that small companies comprise the engine that drives most of our economy,” Dr. Robert Rogow, dean of EKU’s College of Business and Technology, said. “We want to do whatever we can through our partnerships to foster small-business development and recognize those who’ve been successful in developing companies in Eastern and Southern Kentucky.”
Awards will be presented in four categories: For-Profit Business, For-Profit Small Business, Start-Up Business, and Not-for-Profit Entity.
Award winners are determined by the economic success of the enterprise, contributions to the community, and job creation and operational achievement as measured by innovative business practices, superior safety achievement, and superior technology.
The 2009 EIEA finalists and their respective business categories are:
For-Profit Business
- Shannon Wright and Kendall Wright, owners, Wright Concrete and Construction Inc., Dorton, Ky.
- Paul D. Nesbitt, owner, Nesbitt Engineering Inc., North Upper Street, Lexington, Ky.
- Robert Williams, general manager, Equity Group Kentucky Division LLC, Ky. Highway 90W, Albany, Ky.
For-Profit Small Business
- Douglas E. Maggard, owner, Maggard Electric Inc., Kennedy Road, Hazard, Ky.
- Darrell Greer and Eric Greer, co-owners, Computer Information Systems Inc., South Main Street, Corbin, Ky.
- Charlie Pinson, president-owner, Charlie Pinson Insurance, Second Street, Pikeville, Ky.
Start-Up Business
- Jack L. Wisdom, president, Fluortubing U.S.A., Industrial Road, Campbellsville, Ky.
- Larry and April Murray, owners/operators, Your Secret Chef/Chef on the Run Catering, London, Ky.
- Amber Stone, studio owner/CPT, Body of Stone Fitness, North Main Street, London, Ky.
Not-for-Profit Entity
- Steve Yeary, executive director, Appalachian Children’s Home, Barbourville, Ky.
- Cheryl and Mark Martin, co-directors/instructors, Appalachian Foothills Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Kentucky Highway, McKee, Ky.
- Lonnie Cowan, CEO/founder, Chronic Pain Support Group Inc., West Second Street, Lexington, Ky.
In addition to the award finalists, winners in the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Collegiate Business Concept Challenge and The Center’s youth Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute (ELI) Business Concept Competition will also be recognized at the luncheon.
“Supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses is at the heart of the mission of The Center for Rural Development,” Lonnie Lawson, president and CEO, said, “and the encouragement and recognition of Kentucky’s future business leaders is fundamental to the realization of that mission.”
Former EIEA award winners also will be recognized for their achievements at the Sept. 14 event.
The 2008 award recipients were: Terry E. Forcht, president/CEO, Forcht Group of Kentucky, Corbin, For-Profit Business; Steve Taylor, president, EST Tool & Machine, Inc., Brodhead, For-Profit Small Business; Brian Floyd and Scott Floyd, owners, Floyd Industries, LLC, Liberty, Start-Up Business; Debbie Long, executive director, God’s Food pantry of Pulaski County, Somerset, Not-for-Profit Entity.
“Entrepreneurs are visionaries and risk-takers vital to any community,” Jerry Rickett, president and CEO of Kentucky Highlands Investment Corp., said. “Whether they succeed or fail, their tenacity and adventurous spirit need to be recognized and applauded. That’s what the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards is about.”
For more information on EIEA program, visit The Center’s Web site at www.centertech.com and clink on the EIEA link. A video library of previous EIEA award finalists may be viewed on the KEAN (Kentucky Entrepreneur Accelerator Network) Web site at www.kyean.org or through a link on The Center’s Web site.
To be eligible for EIEA competition, businesses must be located in one of the following 55 Southern and Eastern Kentucky counties: Adair, Bath, Bell, Boyd, Boyle, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Edmonson, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Garrard, Green, Greenup, Harlan, Hart, Jackson, Jessamine, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, McCreary, Madison, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Metcalfe, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, Russell, Taylor, Wayne, Whitley, or Wolfe. |
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