2011 Small Business Awardees are:

Emerging Entrepreneur of Distinction:
T.R.E.A.L. Fashions, Terry W. Dudley II, chief executive officer

Non-profit Award of Distinction:
ERC Resource & Referral, Reva Wywadis, chief executive officer

Minority and Women Business of Distinction:
JQ Historic Properties, Barbara Quaney, president

Capital City Business of Distinction:
L & J Building Maintenance, Lonnie J. Williams, owner

These businesses were honored at the 2011 Small Business Awards Luncheon Wednesday, May 18, in the Washburn University Memorial Union. Join us in congratulating these fine area businesses!

Emerging Entrepreneur of Distinction
T.R.E.A.L. Fashions
6041 SW 27th Street, Apartment 3
Terry W. Dudley II, CEO

T.R.E.A.L. Fashions is a motivational clothing line and retail business that passes on the message of T.R.E.A.L. (Together Risin’ Equally and Lovin’it). The fashions are available at Center Stage 606, Exclusive Fashions 420 and Déjà Nu, all located in Topeka. Dudley has increased his inventory and design selection over the past year and is doing more publicity and hosting charitable fashion shows. He’s currently attending Washburn University, majoring in business. T.R.E.A.L. Fashions has donated clothing, time and money in hopes of improving the community. “So far, it has been successful and it’s only going to get better as we grow,” says Dudley.

Non-profit Award of Distinction
ERC Resource & Referral
1710 SW Tenth Avenue, Suite 215
Reva Wywadis, CEO

As a non-profit licensed child care resource and referral agency, that serves a nine-county area with the goal of improving the quality of child care programs. ERC Resource & Referral has 26 staff members, 21 of them in Topeka. They will soon add six new positions in Manhattan, Concordia and Salina. ERC strives to help parents with young children feel supported in their important role and learn how to access community resources. ERC continually looks for opportunities to partner with local businesses in an effort to inform and assist their employees with their child care needs by attending employee fairs and events to talk about child care and parenting needs, sharing resources and information. ERC “gives back” to the community through its annual fundraiser, the ERC Designers’ Showhouse which not only benefits ERC, but also showcases the talented work of local interior designers and craftsmen who work on the home.

Minority & Women Business of Distinction
JQ Historic Properties
821 SW Western Avenue
Barbara Quaney, president

JQ Historic Properties is a housing restoration company formed in 2001 owned by Barbara Quaney, president, and Doug Jones, vice president. They have three full-time and six part-time employees. The firm’s mission is to serve homes that are at-risk for demolition, specializing in retaining and preserving the historic architectural charm of homes built between 1890 and 1920, yet offering all the modern conveniences and efficiency one would expect in a new home including emphasis on environmental design and architectural reuse of materials. Over the past five years, JQ Historic Properties has restored nine homes in the 800 block of SW Fillmore Street and the 800 block of SW Western Street within the Historic Old Town subdivision of Topeka. After restoration, the homes are offered for sale or for lease; and, there’s an active waiting list of tenants for the renovated homes offered for lease.

Capital City Business of Distinction
L & J Building Maintenance, LLC
1224 SW Cornwall Street
Lonnie J. Williams, owner

L & J Building Maintenance, LLC has a total of 78 employees in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, North Carolina and Tennessee. Started in 1987 as a part-time janitorial business providing services to the local community, the firm has expanded to include total building maintenance, refuse and recycling. L & J has developed a Green Cleaning Standard of Procedure that has been used as a benchmark by several of their government customers and they have also developed recycling programs for most of their government janitorial contracts. As owner, Lonnie Williams encouraged his firm and employees to contribute financial and volunteer resources to such organizations as the American Cancer Society, Living the Dream, Inc., Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters, Midland Hospice, Topeka Performing Arts Center, Jayhawk Theater, Court Appointed Special Advocates, NAACP, The New Beginning Baptist Church, Topeka AIDS Project, the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library and the African American Male Leadership Council.

2011 Small Business Awards Sponsors:

The Chamber/GO Topeka extend thanks to the following 2011 sponsors:

Platinum—Dynamic Computer Solutions, Entrepreneurial & Minority Business Development/GO Topeka, Kennedy and Coe, LLC and US Bank

Media—WIBW Channels

Gold—Bartlett & West, PTMW, Inc. Schwerdt Design Group and Six Auto Sales and Service

Silver—Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, Century Health Solutions, Cook, Flatt & Strobel Engineers, PA and Parrish Hotel Corporation

Bronze—INTRUST Bank and Lower Heating & Air Conditioning

Past Small Business Award Winners 1981-2010