Some of the region’s top entrepreneurs in Southern and Eastern Kentucky were recognized at the 2013 Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards (EIEA) program hosted at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset.

The regional awards program, held Sept. 9 at The Center for Rural Development, honors business owners and entrepreneurs for their economic success, community contributions, and operational achievements in a business or non-profit organization.

The 2013 award winners and finalists in their respective business categories are:

For-Profit Business:
Shane Baker and Patrick Heist, Owners, Ferm Solutions, Inc., Danville, Ky.

Finalists: Anthony and Julie Roberts, Owners, Servpro of Pulaski and Laurel Counties, London, Ky.; and Bryan Floyd, CEO, Chieftain Steel, Liberty, Ky.

Start-Up Business:
Scott L. Shinn, Sustainment Solutions Inc., Lancaster, Ky.

Finalists: Gus and Kristin LaFontaine, Jeff and Abby McIntier, LaFontaine Preparatory School, Richmond, Ky.; and Kristi Bertrand and Trisha Mullins, Owners/Founders, Medical Career & Technical College.

Not-for-Profit Entity:
Paul D. Dole, President/CEO, KCEOC Community Action Partnership, Inc., Barbourville, Ky.

 Finalists: Jackson County Regional Food Center 3AJC, Inc., Tyner, Ky.; and Tom Manning-Beavin, President, Southern Tier Housing Corporation, London, Ky.

Young Entrepreneur:
Todd Duff, Owner, LowGap Outfitters and Jak’d Up Outdoors, Hindman, Ky.

Finalists: Adam C. Luttrell, Bear Country Cupcakes, Harlan, Ky.; and Monica & Erica Withers, MEW Productions, Monticello, Ky.

Other honorees recognized at this year’s EIEA regional awards program were the 2013 Collegiate Business Concept Challenge award recipient Justin Prater of the University of Pikeville and his faculty advisor, Dr. David Snow, and first-place winners of The Center’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute (ELI) Business Concept Challenge.

Each member of the ELI team—comprised of Blake Blevins, Harlan County; Laken Fitch, Lawrence County; Autumn Hall, Floyd County; Aubrey Kelley, Pulaski County; and Lyndsey Pennington of McCreary County—received an offer of a Presidential Scholarship from Eastern Kentucky University.

The EIEA program—honoring excellence since 2001—is sponsored by Eastern Kentucky University’s College of Business and Technology, Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation, Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation (SKED), and The Center for Rural Development.

Click here  to view more photos of the 2013 EIEA recipients and finalists.

 

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