WHO WILL WIN THIS YEAR?

The Chamber will present its Annual Small Business and Entrepreneur of the Year awards at the June 2nd Rooster Booster Breakfast at the Hines Center. The list of nominees in each category is presented below in alphabetical order.

Small Business of the Year (1-10 employees)

A Unique Video Productions

Since graduating in 1995 from Western Kentucky University with a degree in broadcast product, Michael Hicks has pursued his own video production business—A Unique Video Productions. His work has won several awards and his 30-minute video highlighting the University of Kentucky’s seven national championships in basketball was distributed nationally by Waxworks. A Unique Video’s gross sales climbed 33% in 2010 over the previous year.

In Touch Communications – AT&T

In Touch operates seven AT&T phone service stores in Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee including one on Highway 54 in Owensboro that employs ten people and serves as corporate offices. Owners Terry Green and Tony Fulkerson say In Touch strives to “wow” its customers. Additionally, the company “works every day to provide the best pay, the best commission program, the best employee benefits, the best tools and the best working environment we can offer” to its employees.

Lance & Company Jewelers

Lance Embry established his jewelry store in Wesleyan Park Plaza in October of 2008 and has enjoyed an average gross sales increase of 16% in the past four years. Jewelry work allows him to create and construct with his hands and that specialty has led to unique treasures for his customers. Taking a nearly destroyed wedding band that belonged to a customer’s mother, for example, and taking 20 hours to transform it to look “brand new” creates lifelong clients. Lance & Co. employs six people and has assisted with numerous community events.

Murphy Excavating

Working with the land and “preserving and enhancing one of our most valuable natural resources” is the business of Murphy Excavating. Gary Murphy’s company was started in 2005, has expanded to include four employees and has gained gross sales averaging 255% since 2006. Recent natural disasters such as wind and ice storms have given Murphy Excavating the opportunity to give back to the community. “Donating the equipment, fuel and my time (and that of my employees) to cleanup efforts is a way I can give back to my community,” says Murphy.

LeAnne Musick – Musick Studios

Now up to six employees and 243 students since opening in April of 2008, Musick Studios is proof that a dance studio can prosper in downtown Owensboro. LeAnne Music says, “I am motivated every day to seek the change in our students by teaching our children and adults confidence in themselves and watching their development through expression in dance.” Dance lessons have been taught in Daviess County schools, and LeAnne is hoping to produce a dance program for all schools in Kentucky.

Small Business of the Year (11+ employees)

Diamond Lake Resort

Diamond Lake co-owners Brian and Janice Smith purchased the long established but troubled Diamond Lake Resort in far western Daviess County in late 2005 and relocated here from Burbank, California. Despite knowing no one in the area, they worked creatively and followed their long established motto to “build a better mousetrap” in bringing the business back to life. In 2011, it will host 13 major events and the Good Time Theater will be busy on Saturday nights from April to October. Thousands visit the resort for the Grillin’ and Chillin’ BBQ Cook-off, Kentucky’s only sanctioned BBQ championship, and the Street Legends Car Show in August draws as many as 600 vehicles.

Green River Appliance

Ray and Marnell Chambers opened a second Green River Appliance store in Madisonville, KY in 1976 before moving back to Owensboro in 1986 to take over the flagship store. They point to customer service as their edge with phones answered by people in the store instead of on 1-800 numbers or overseas. Needing to stay price competitive, Green River Appliance joined other locally-owned stores in the region in 2000 to form an LLC called Hometown Choice Dealers which is able to buy product in volume. Now in business for more than 50 years, Ray Chambers says Green River Appliance will stay true to its mission of providing its customers personal attention.

Home Instead Senior Care

The aging of America has left many people in need of in-home care for their elderly relatives. Home Instead Senior Care of Owensboro has helped fill that need and has grown to 65 employees since opening in June of 2010. Owners Stephen and Kimberly Bryson both had grandparents who needed care which led to their founding of the business. The company’s “50/50 Rule: Sibling Communication” helps families think through the needs, time and concerns that must be addressed when planning for outside care-givers in a loved one’s home.

Messenger-Inquirer

Owensboro’s daily newspaper has been in business for 139 years reporting and delivering news, sports and other information to its readers. Changing times have changed the newspaper industry dramatically, but the Messenger-Inquirer has not downsized its newsroom and has also invested $1 million in new technology since 2008 to become more cost effective while delivering an improved product to 35,000 subscribers. New jobs have also been added to the paper’s Owensboro location in recent months with the consolidation of printing and other operations from other sister publications.

Yellow Banks River Terminal

Yellow Banks River Terminal provides barge loading, storage and related services and handles products such as coal, salt, fertilizer, aluminum and steel from its location east of Owensboro. The company has grown to 57 employees since opening in 2007. Recent flooding on the Ohio River have challenged Yellow Banks, but the company responded by moving many of its customers’ product to higher ground. The company was also forced to acquire the use of a floating barge crane to load out 10,000 tons of product when flood waters prevented the normal use of the terminal.

Entrepreneur of the Year

Glenn Higdon – LinGate Hospitality

In April of 1985 Glenn Higdon started his hospitality business. Today, Owensboro-based LinGate Hospitality owns and/or manages 19 hotels around the country, 18 of them either Marriott or Hilton properties. This includes the new 109-room Courtyard by Marriott off Highway 54 in Owensboro. Working from age ten on his uncle’s farm and then working himself through high school and college, Higdon developed a strong work ethic and sense of responsibility that he has carried forward through LinGate. This includes guiding the company through the aftermath of 9/11 when travel nationwide came to a halt and hotel operators struggled mightily. Even during that time, LinGate made it through with no loan defaults, foreclosures or lost franchises and never laid off any employees. Glenn’s community involvement includes serving on numerous boards and financial support for many others. He and his wife founded the Glenn and Mary Higdon Football Scholarship program at Western Kentucky University in 2006.

Robert F. Kuphal, CPA – Robert F. Kuphal, CPA

Robert F. Kuphal started his own CPA firm in May of 1997. Today, he has five employees with gross sales up nearly 37% in 2010 over 2009. He also owns three other companies and trusts, including Panther Creek Wines which will eventually produce a merlot wine domestically. Kuphal has experienced the “growing pains” associated with a new business including the loss of employees who took some of his clients with them. He strives now to hire the “right kind of people” for his openings, and a new bonus incentive productivity program saves one-and-a-half man days each month. Kuphal has been very involved in the community; he started a mentoring program at Big Brothers/Big Sisters to work with young people in danger of dropping out of high school. He also teaches classes for Oakland City University.

Cherri Lolley – CherriCare Medical Equipment & Supplies

After the birth of her third child who had numerous disabilities, Cherri Lolley says she experienced a difficult time obtaining medical equipment supplies from knowledgeable providers. In true entrepreneurial style, she sensed a niche market opportunity and created CherriCare. The business now has eleven employees with gross sales up 15% last year. Cherri knows her clients often have many needs not covered by business and she’s worked with groups such as Boy Scout troops and others to build accessible ramps, with church groups to provide meals and transportation and more. “It has been an exciting, stress filled, invigorating ride to be a self-employed woman who started a business with $10,000, a nursing degree and a lot of stubbornness and determination,” says Cherri. “Owensboro is now my home and I am proud to be a part of this caring community.”

Ray Middleton – On Time Fab

Ray Middleton started On Time Fab in January of 2008 to improve his future and also the future of his employees. Not only is he using the skills he’s acquired during his career, he’s purposely built his business based on honesty and integrity. The company name was derived after several potential customers told Ray they “just need their product on time.” That became the name of the company, and exceptional customer service is the goal. After finding it difficult to find good employees, Ray stepped up and provides drinks and lunch daily to his workers plus a competitive benefits package to keep them happy. The business was originally located on Daviess Street but has been relocated to Medley Road to allow for more space. Ray employs seven people with sales up 147% in 2010 and trending 203% upward to date in 2011.

Leo Payne – Winnelson

Leo Payne and his wife sold their home in 1996 and used all of their savings to open Owensboro Winnelson, a full-service distributor of plumbing parts and supplies. The next spring, he was diagnosed with cancer and underwent several rounds of chemotherapy treatments. Despite that, the business grew with his employees’ help and his dedication. Going that extra mile to please and retain customers is what the business does best. As an example, an accident at a Hopkins County coal mine resulted in the need for 5,000 feet of copper pipe by the next day. Leo went to work and found the needed pipe in Virginia and was able to have it delivered the next day. The company donates to many causes and was a supplier to the fall 2009 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in Daviess County.