MERRILLVILLE – The Northwest ISBDC will celebrate the accomplishments of entrepreneurs and champions at its 24th annual Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards (E-Day) luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday Nov. 4 at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza, 800 E. 81st Ave.
The event is open to the public and includes the awards presentation as well as keynote speaker Julie Basich, a co-founder and chief operating officer at Fair Oaks Farms.
“We are honored to carry on the tradition of celebrating the shining stars of our small business community,” said Lorri Feldt, Northwest ISBDC regional director. “Our honorees are making a significant impact on our region.”
The 2015 E-Day winners include:
* Small Business Person of the Year: Harry Hruska, Precision Turbo & Engine, Hebron
* Entrepreneurial Success of the Year: John Hamstra, Leeps Supply Company Inc., Merrillville
* Emerging Business of the Year: Breanne Stover, BSE Inc., Griffith
* Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Feras Musleh, Anytime Fitness franchises, Crown Point
* Small Business Exporter of the Year – Manufacturing: Todd Cannon, APACKS, LaPorte
* Small Business Exporter of the Year – Technology: Robert E. Johnson III, Cimcor Inc., Merrillville
* Family-Owned Business of the Year: Larry Sams, Able Paper & Janitorial Supply, Merrillville
* Small Business Journalist of the Year: Glee Renick-May, Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly
* Garry Bradley Small Business Advocate of the Year: Dushan Nikolovski, Purdue University Calumet, Hammond
* Lifetime Achievement Award: David Bochnowski, Peoples Bank, Munster
Tickets are $40 and may be purchased by visiting www.edayleaders.com/luncheon. Table sponsorships are also available. For more information, contact the Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center offices at (219) 644-3513 or northwest@isbdc.org.
Serving seven counties in the region, the NW-ISBDC offers no-cost assistance for entrepreneurs starting or expanding their businesses. Through one-on-one consulting, the NWI SBDC helps guide small businesses toward their goals by offering referrals, workshops, training opportunities and other essential business tools. It is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Small Business Administration, the State of Indiana and other local partners.
For more information, visit www.nwisbdc.org.
