03/28/19
TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Kansas Small Business Development Center statewide network recognized the 2019 Kansas SBDC Small Businesses of the Year at the annual awards ceremony in Topeka recently.

Each year the Kansas SBDC recognizes existing, emerging, and exporting Businesses of the Year from the eight Kansas SBDC regional centers.

In total, 16 Kansas small businesses were recognized at a ceremony in the Kansas State Capitol rotunda. The businesses were selected from more than 2,400 that received Kansas SBDC one-on-one business advising services in 2018.

“The selected businesses were chosen through careful consideration by our Kansas SBDC regional directors and advisors,” said Greg Panichello, Kansas SBDC state director. “Collectively, the Kansas SBDC team believes these 16 small businesses are excellent examples of small businesses that have learned to adapt and succeed in challenging times.”

WIBW-TV Anchor and Reporter Melissa Brunner emceed the event.

The businesses, listed with their locations and owners:

Existing Businesses of the Year
Floyds Inc. (automotive repair services), Emporia; John and Ruth Wheeler
La Crosse Furniture Co., La Crosse; Employee-owned
Wolcott Foods, Kansas City; Ron and Ronnie Tilman
Good Energy Solutions, Lawrence; Kevin and Shana Good
Bolling’s Meat Market & Deli, Iola; Cara Bolling Thomas
Angela’s Wellness Center, Elkhart; Angela Willey
Dodd Installations, Wichita; Wilt and Tina Dodd
The Winged Lion, Manhattan; Ralph Diaz

Emerging Businesses of the Year
Ellen Plumb’s City Bookstore, Emporia; Marcia Lawrence
Lost Creek German Shepherds, Clayton; Taylor and John Meitl
Safely Delicious, Overland Park; Lisa Ragan
Leeway Franks, Lawrence; Lee and K Meisel
ArtForms Gallery, Pittsburg; Sue Horner, Janet Lewis, Ruth Miller and Sylvia Shirley
Gravity Wellness Center, Garden City; Kristi Schmitt
Triple Threat Ag Services, Conway Springs; Allen Lange, Paul Lange, Phillip Lange and Aaron Lange
Norsemen Brewing Company, Topeka; Jared and Emily Rudy, Adam and Melissa Rosdahl

About Kansas SBDC:

The Kansas SBDC is a statewide advising, consulting, and training service for small businesses (typically less than 500 employees) funded by federal, state, and local partners. Funding allows the Kansas SBDC to provide advising and training (such as financial analysis, marketing, and management) to businesses across the state at low or no cost. Kansas SBDC is an accredited member of America’s SBDC, the most comprehensive small business assistance network in the United States.

Fort Hays State University is the host institution for the Kansas SBDC.

To learn more, visit www.kansassbdc.net or call 877-625-7232.

For more information on the Kansas SBDC, contact Greg Panichello, 785-296-6514, panichello@ksbdc.net.