KDC

TOPEKA–The Kansas Department of Commerce’s Office of Minority and Women Business Development will host its 32nd Annual Minority and Women Business Awards Luncheon. The luncheon takes place during Kansas Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week, the Department’s annual celebration of minority and women entrepreneurs in Kansas.

The luncheon will take place at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 11, at the Capitol Plaza Hotel, 1717 Southwest Topeka Boulevard, Topeka. The event will recognize 16 companies and four individuals for their support of Kansas minority and women-owned businesses and their efforts to create opportunities

“Minority and women-owned businesses are valuable contributors to the Kansas economy and to the quality of life in our state,” Kansas Commerce Secretary Antonio Soave said. “These unique businesses, with unique perspectives, also bring culture and tradition to our communities, while helping them build upon the values that make each of these minority cultures great.”

Sponsors of the luncheon include Textron Aviation, Dillons, FHLBank Topeka
GO Topeka/Entrepreneurial & Minority Business Development, Network Kansas and PTMW, Inc.

The registration fee for the luncheon is $40 per person or $320 for a table of eight. Registration is required, and the deadline to register is Oct. 6. Please visit KansasCommerce.com/MEDWeek to register, or contact Rhonda Harris, director of the Office of Minority and Women Business Development, at (785) 296-3425 or [email protected].

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.

Kansas Women-Owned Businesses
Construction Firm
Hastco, Inc
Topeka, KS

Manufacturing Firm
Alderman Acres Mfg. Inc.
Coffeyville, KS

Professional Service Firm
A.S.K. Associates, Inc.
Lawrence, KS

Retail Firm
Schenker Family Farms, Inc.
McCune, KS

Service Industry Firm
The Culinary Center of Kansas City
Overland Park, KS

Supplier/Distributor
International Express Trucking, Inc.
Kansas City, KS

Kansas Minority-Owned Businesses
Construction Firm
S & S Rock Crushing, Inc.
Sublette, KS

Manufacturing Firm
Tortilla King, Inc.
Moundridge, KS

Professional Service Firm
Resource Management Group, Inc.
Wichita, KS

Retail Firm
Leeway Franks, LLC
Lawrence, KS

Service Industry Firm
Shenomenon Corp
Topeka, KS

Individual Awards
Minority Business Advocate
Christal Watson
Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce
Kansas City, KS

Women Business Advocate
Jayne Siemens
Venice Communications, Inc.
Shawnee, KS

Young Entrepreneur
Lindsay Beyer
Bella Rose Boutique and Tanning Salon
Burlington, KS

Corporation of the Year
Black & Veatch
Overland Park, KS