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Small Business Awards

 

33rd Annual Small Business Awards Ceremony

May 15, 2013, Noon - 1:30 p.m.

Washburn University - Memorial Union

For Nomination Form

Please complete this form and return it to:

Cyndi Hermocillo-Legg, Vice-President
Entrepreneurial & Minority Business Development
Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce/GO Topeka
120 SE Sixth Avenue, Suite 110, Topeka, KS 66603-3515

You may also fax this form to: 785.234.8656, attention Small Business Awards.

For questions contact Mary Ann Anderson at 785.231.6000, email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

2012 Small Business Awardees

Emerging Entrepreneur of Distinction:

ShopGracieb.com - Grace Brown-Mitchell – owner/operator

 

Non-profit Award of Distinction:

TARC, Inc., chief executive officer – Eileen Doran

 

Minority and Women Business of Distinction:

Color Works Paint & Supply, Diana Swafford- owner/operator

 

Capital City Business of Distinction:

Educational Credit Union, president/ceo –Greg Winkler

 

Details about the award winners:

Emerging Entrepreneur of Distinction

shopgracieb.com Retail Store – Located at The HUB
2114 SW Chelsea Drive, Topeka, KS 66614
Grace Brown-Mitchell, owner/operator

Launched in July 2011, shopgracieb.com has sustained an average 53% sales growth month over month, giving an ever growing customer base more access to a carefully curated selection of uniquely whimsical dresses, clothing and accessories. Grace has adjusted her business inventory practices to accommodate her customers and late last year she moved into The Hub in Fairlawn Plaza Shopping Center, a collective boutique featuring clothing from a variety of boutiques in and around northeast Kansas. She's found participating as a sponsor and donor to community events such as a ping pong fundraiser for Easter Seals Capper Foundation and Couture for Cancer has given her visibility and generated new customers. Through her website she hopes to inspire women as they shop and nurture an environment that celebrates originality in personal style.

 

Non-profit Award of Distinction

TARC, Inc.
2701 SW Randolph Avenue, Topeka, KS 66611
Eileen Doran, CEO

TARC's mission is to enhance the lives of people affected by intellectual, developmental and related disabilities through commitment to excellence in service, support and advocacy. The first paid employee at TARC started in 1955 and today there are 158 employees and the agency provides employment opportunities to 145 consumers with developmental and related disabilities. Developing and maintaining diverse funding streams have enabled programs to thrive, a key to supporting their clients and expanding collaborative partnerships in the community. TARC, through their employment services program, fundraising programs and connections to medical professionals and hospitals demonstrate a strong commitment to their clients and the community. Seeking contracts with local employers that fit the skills and abilities of their clients has demonstrated their creativity and willingness to help their clients learn additional job skills. TARC's staff has been instrumental in offering education to the community on such topics as Medicaid, Managed Care and KNI closure as well as CPR and First Aid and they offer their facility for neighborhood meetings and related organizational meetings.

 

Minority & Women Business of Distinction

ColorWorks Paint & Supply
4410 SW 21st Street, Topeka, KS 66604
Diana Swafford, owner/operator

 When Diana purchased ColorWorks in January 2008, she didn't anticipate the economy being her number one problem. After 13 price increases in four years, loss of customers who have closed their doors and never-ending competition from the box stores, Diana, her husband Bob and staff of six responded with team planning and hard work. Marketing strategies changed from "old school" to social media, better co-op agreements were developed and new lines added. Employees with special talents thrived, resulting in increased sales. In promoting "buy local" they exhibited at community events, offered seminars and been involved in business and charitable organizations. After participating in GO Topeka's Innovation Engineering Leadership Institute they were inspired by the message: "If you're not unique, you better be cheap." From that quote, their employee team re-engineered warehouse and delivery processes, added services and further developed their ColorWorks brand. Unforeseen benefits from the innovations were magazine articles in local and trade magazines and notice by peer dealers wanting to learn "how they did it."

 

Capital City Business of Distinction

Educational Credit Union
2808 SW Arrowhead Rd., Topeka, KS 66614
Greg Winkler, president/CEO

Educational Credit Union, with 36 full time and 7 part-time employees that serve over 19,000 owners/members, is celebrating 72 years in the Topeka community. Over the years Educational Credit Union has grown into a full service financial institution that in addition to savings accounts and loans offers checking accounts, VISA Credit and Debit cards, ATM machines, CD's and IRA's, and much more. In January 2008, ECU reached $100,000,000 in assets and opened its sixth location. Challenges have included building awareness of products and services, accomplished in part by establishing in March 2011 a Junior Advisory Board to educate young adults about how to become financially literate. ECU staff members have been involved with organizations such as the Topeka Rescue Mission, TARC Inc., Minority Women Business Development Council, the Jayhawk Area Council "20 Under 40" program, Topeka Public Schools, Washburn Institute of Technology (Tool Loan Program), the Topeka Chamber and Fast Forward.

 

These businesses were honored at the 2012 Small Business Awards Luncheon Wednesday, May 16, in the Washburn University Memorial Union. Join us in congratulating these fine area businesses!

 


2012 Small Business Awards Sponsors:

The Chamber/GO Topeka extend thanks to the following 2012 sponsors:

Platinum— Kennedy and Coe

Media—WIBW Channels

Gold—Schwerdt Design Group 

SilverBimbo Bakeries USA; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, Century Health Solutions, Core First Bank & Trust, Jayhawk File Express, PTMW, Inc.

BronzeGriffith & Blair American Home Service, Lower Heating & Air Conditioning and Parrish Hotel Corporation


Past Small Business Award Winners 1981-2011

Briman's Jewelers
Bowser Johnson Funeral Chapel
South City Animal Hospital
Blackburn Nursery & Lawn Service
Gregg Tire
Cardinal Building Supply
Reser's Fine Foods
KTPK - Twister 106.9
American Bottling Company
Custom Neon & Vinyl Graphics, Inc.
Wolfe's
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Topeka
Wheatland Property Management
Hall Commercial Printing
Central Research Corporation
Harley Davidson
Coldwell Banker Griffith & Blair
Scotch Fabric Care
Fairlawn Plaza Shopping Center
Callahan Creek
JM Bauersfeld's
Contract Design Group, Inc.
Passport Travel, Inc.
Gardner Floor Covering
KSNT-TV
American Medical Response
Engroff's
John Hoffer Chrysler-Plymouth-Jeep Eagle
Jones Seel Huyett
Flower Gallery
Westar Communications
Midwest Health Services, Inc.
ILC of Topeka & Lawrence
M-C Industries
Prudential Greater Topeka Realtors
BCC Business Services, Inc.
FryeAllen Advertising, Inc.
Smith Audio Visual, Inc.
Topeka Metal Specialties
Community Blood Center

 

CJS Industries
KTKA-TV
Capital Graphics, Inc.
SAMCO, Inc.
Dunhill Personnel of Topeka
Carol Hamilton's Catering
Senne Construction
Community National Bank
Capital City Bank
KS Commercial Real Estate Services
Knoll Patient Supply
Boss Hawg's Barbeque & Catering Co.
Hawkins Optical Laboratories, Inc.
Silver Lake Bank
Midway Wholesale
Capital City Oil, Inc.
Fisher's Fixtures
PTMW
Mize, Houser & Company, P.A.
Reliable Car Shop
Kansas Building Systems, Inc.
MB Piland Advertising & Marketing LLC
Hillmer's Luggage, Leather & Gifts
Gage Bowls
HDB Construction, Inc.
Schmidtlein Excavating, Inc.
Architect One, P.A.
Dynamic Computer Solutions of Topeka
Heartland Park Topeka
Jayhawk File Express
PT's Coffee Roasting Company
Six Auto Sales & Service
Schwerdt Design Group, Inc.
Lower Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning
T.R.E.A.L. Fashions
ERC Resource & ReferralJQ Historic Properties
L & J Building Maintenance


 


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Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce
All rights reserved.

120 SE Sixth Avenue, Suite 110
Topeka, KS 66603-3515
P  785.234.2644
F  785.234.8656