The Kansas Department of Commerce’s Office of Minority and Women Business Development will host its 28th Annual Minority and Women Business Awards Luncheon at noon, Oct. 9, in the Emerald Ballroom, Capitol Plaza Hotel, 1717 Southwest Topeka Boulevard, Topeka, Kan. 66612.
The event will recognize 13 companies and six individuals for their support of Kansas minority and women-owned businesses and their efforts toward creating opportunities. A new award for Corporation of the Year will be given to a major corporation that has demonstrated leadership and commitment in advancing Kansas minority and/or women business enterprises through its diversity outreach programs. The luncheon coincides with Kansas Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week, the Department’s annual celebration of Kansas’ minority and women entrepreneurs.
“Strengthening and expanding minority and women-owned businesses will be key to Kansas if our state is to overcome its current economic challenges,” said Kansas Commerce Secretary Pat George. “I am proud to help recognize the contributions of these business leaders during Kansas Minority Enterprise Development Week.”
The registration fee for the luncheon is $40 per person, or $320 per table of eight. Registration is required, and the deadline to registration is Oct. 3. To register or for more information, visit KansasCommerce.com/MEDWeek or contact Rhonda Harris, director of the Office of Minority and Women Business Development, at (785) 296-3425 or rharris@kansascommerce.com. Sponsors include Dillons, GO Topeka’s Entrepreneurial and Minority Business Development, Hawker Beechcraft Corp., NetWork Kansas and PTMW Inc.
The Office of Minority and Women Business Development provides assistance in business development, identifying resources for financing and establishing contacts in the public and private sectors. The office is responsible for certifying minority and women-owned businesses as small disadvantaged businesses for procurement and subcontracting opportunities.
Company Awards—Kansas Women-Owned Businesses
Construction
Tenoch Construction, Inc.Sonya Segura-Ulrich6216 Mission RoadFairway, Kan. 66205(913) 671-7706sonya@tenochconstruction.com
Manufacturer
S and Y IndustriesSandy FoustP.O. Box 394Winfield, Kan. 67156(620) 221-4001sandy.foust@sandyindustries.com
Professional Service
Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc.Patricia Ramirez115 W. IronSalina, Kan. 67401(785) 309-1060earlesinc@earleseng.com
Retail
Bling, Inc.Nicole Hedges-Campos812 WashingtonScott City, Kan. 67871(620) 874-1169blingglamour@yahoo.com
Service Industry
Hays Academy of Hair DesignSummer Melvin and Danielle Markley1214 E. 27th St.Hays, Kan. 67601(785) 628-6624len@haysacademy.com
Supplier/Distributor
American Energy Products, Inc.Gail Watson1105 Industrial StreetLansing, Kan. 66043(913) 351-3388gail@americanenergyinc.com
Company Awards—Kansas Minority-Owned Businesses
Oliver ConstructionPhillip OliverP.O. Box 3622Wichita, Kan. 67201(316) 393-8303oliver_construction@yahoo.com
Forever Yours Glass EtchingsDon and Terri Person1203 E. Johnston St.Olathe, KS 66061(913) 782-3944d.person@fyge1.com
FSC Inc. Hasu Doshi and Sonia Garapaty9225 Indian Creek Pkwy, Suite 300Overland Park, Kan. 66210(913) 722-3473hdoshi@fsc-inc.com or sgarapaty@fsc-inc.com
Signs By Tomorrow/The Corona Group Inc.Cecelia R. Corona and Albert Corona Jr.10049 W. 87th StreetOverland Park, Kan. 66212(913) 541-1331overlandpark@signbytomorrow.com
Athena CommunicationsNoelle Scaramucci4905 Antioch Rd.Overland Park, KS 66203(913) 599-3444noelles@athenacomm.com
Technology Group Solutions, LLC14649 West 95th StreetLenexa, Kan. 666215Lenora Payne(913) 451-9900lpayne@tgs-kc.com
Individual Awards
Minority Business Advocate
Patsy StukeAmerican Osage Consulting Inc.8700 Monrovia, Suite 310Lenexa, Kan. 66215(913) 322-3862pstuke@americanosage.com
Women Business Advocate
Jene’ Popper HongBarton Nelson Inc.13700 WyandotteKansas City, Mo. 64145(816) 286-2112jene@bebco.com
Young Entrepreneur
Curtis Smart, Kaleb Berry, Kenan Meadows and Joseph Belcher Jr.www.kcteenlink.org2043 North 33rd TerraceKansas City, KS 66104(913) 208-0335smartcurtis93@yahoo.com
Corporation of the Year
Kansas Entertainment LLC 400 Speedway BoulevardKansas City, Kan. 66111(913) 328-3300www.kansasspeedway.com