Three named winners of Annual Small Business & Entrepreneur Chamber awards
The awarding of the annual Chamber of Commerce business awards highlighted a busy Rooster Booster Breakfast on June 4th that was attended by 450 people and included the 6th Annual Owensboro Has It! expo at the Hines Center. Denny Alford was named winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year. Limos by Knight won Small Business of the Year (1-10 employees) honors, and Gipe Automotive was the recipient of the Small Business of the Year (11+ employees) award.
Alford founded Knox Technologies in 2001 after working in the engineering department at Texas Gas for 23 years. Knox Technologies has grown to 17 employees with its biggest business involving the conversion of paper documents to computer databases for companies large and small in at least three states.
Limos by Knight is a long-time Owensboro business that was purchased by the Burton family in 2000 and strives to provide the best in customer service. In its application, B.J. Burton recalled a recent event where a group of 14 they were taking to the Nashville airport experienced mechanical problems at 4 a.m. Arrangements were made with another company to get the group to the airport on time. Upon the group’s arrival back in Nashville following their trip, B.J. and his father, Tom, met them at the airport and took them out for dinner before taking them back home.
Gipe Automotive was started in downtown Owensboro in 1931 and remains headquartered there today. The business has grown to 69 employees and has 11 locations in Kentucky and Indiana. Tom Gipe credits its experienced employees for the business’ longevity.
In its application, B.J. Burton recalled a recent event where a group of 14 they were taking to the Nashville airport experienced mechanical problems at 4 a.m. Arrangements were made with another company to get the group to the airport on time. Upon the group’s arrival back in Nashville following their trip, B.J. and his father, Tom, met them at the airport and took them out for dinner before taking them back home. 
Gipe Automotive was started in downtown Owensboro in 1931 and remains headquartered there today. The business has grown to 69 employees and has 11 locations in Kentucky and Indiana. Tom Gipe credits its experienced employees for the business’ longevity.
