Entrepreneurship is like running a marathon, veteran lawyer Larry Evans told a crowd Nov. 13 at the E-day awards ceremony honoring himself and 10 other business owners.
“You have to take that first step. Do a great job. Don’t let negative thinking slow you down. See that finish line and run for it,” said Evans who has run more than a dozen marathons and practiced law for more than six decades.
Hundreds of area business leaders gathered at Avalon Manor Banquet Center in Merrillville for the 33rd annual Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards luncheon.
Lorri Feldt, regional director of the Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center, introduced the winners, picked by a committee representing academics, attorneys, accountants and lenders who deal with local small businesses.
The winners are:
- Young Entrepreneur: Ben Montgomery, owner of Yaggy Road Roasting in Valparaiso
- Advocate for Youth Entrepreneurship: Ken Barry, founder of the Uthiverse in Merrillville
- Emerging Business: Jamie Panicali, owner of Gratefully Painted in Hammond
- Minority-Owned Business: Michelle Wainwright, owner of of Cute as a Cupcake in Merrillville
- Woman-Owned Business: Drew Sarkisian, owner of Modern Edge in Valparaiso
- Small Business Advocate: Wade Breitzke, CEO of We Create Media in Valparaiso
- Family-Owned Business: Edward Garza, owner of of El Popular Inc. in East Chicago
- Entrepreneurial Success of the Year: Shaun O’Brien and Shaun Ensign, owners of Legacy Sign Group in Westville
- Small Business Person of the Year: D.J. Moore, owner of Erosion & Construction Solutions in Merrillville
- Lifetime Achievement Honoree: Larry Evans, partner at Hoeppner Wagner & Evans
Garza brought his father, Richard, to the awards platform to share in the honor. El Popular will reach 100 years in January. The two represent the second and third generations of the company that specializes in chorizo.
“Challenge yourself,” Edward Garza said. “Be a business owner. There is no ceiling to success.”
DJ Moore, who runs an erosion-control service with his cousin Joe Moore, was introduced to the audience by his father, Dan Moore.
“They’ve built an incredible business, and I’m proud to be the winner’s father.”
Two women found entrepreneurship filled a need to succeed.
Wainwright said she turned the adversity of being laid off as a pharmaceutical industry account manager into the opportunity of starting a cupcake bakery and sales firm.
“I’m truly following my dream,” she said.
Sarkisian said her landscaping business came out of her desire to take charge.
“I always wanted to be my own boss,” she said. “It’s a stressful job, but it is so fun. This award means so much to me and our team.”
The NW-ISBDC named Breitzke the winner of the Small Business Advocate Award, named after the late Garry Bradley, former president of Bank Calumet.
Breitzke, who is the mastermind behind WeCreate Media, an advertising and marketing agency, said in a video that his motto is: “Let’s go start something that changes everything.”
