Nominations are being accepted for the 2017 Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Small Business Awards. Businesses will be honored in five categories; Most Innovative, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Dennis Albaugh Award, Top Growth Company and Small Business of the Year. For a list of criteria for each award click here. The application deadline is June 30, 2017.
“The 2017 DMACC Small Business Awards are an excellent opportunity for small business owners to share their stories of innovation, entrepreneurship and success,” said event organizer and DMACC Entrepreneurship Program Chair Vada Grantham. “This is the fifth year of the event. We have been thrilled with the growth; from the number of nominees and sponsorships to the overall participation and prestige of the event.”
The Small Business Awards will also honor the winner of the DMACC Foundation $10,000 Entrepreneurship Competition. The competition is open to current DMACC students or DMACC alumni operating a business in Iowa. Entry deadline is May 18th. For more information, click here
The 5th Annual DMACC Small Business Awards will be held Sept. 14 at 5 p.m. at the DMACC Ankeny campus FFA Enrichment Center. The ceremony includes a cocktail reception, dinner, a program and a video presentation highlighting each award winner. The ticketed event is open to the public. Aureon is the presenting sponsor of the 2017 DMACC Small Business Awards.
2016 winners include:
Small Business of the Year: Converse Conditioned Air is a Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) and Mechanical Contractor business based in Ames. The company started with one employee in 1999 and has grown to 38 people. Converse Conditioned Air has been named to the Best of Story County list seven of the last eight years.
Most Innovative Company: Lely is a global producer of robotic milking and feeding systems for the dairy sector, based in Pella. Founded in 1948, the Lely brand has played a major role in the advancement of farm equipment. Lely launched the Astronaut robotic milking system, a fully automated milking system with high-tech feeding, cow care and milk testing features.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year: TJ Tollakson, Rüster Sports is a sporting goods manufacturer in Des Moines. Tollakson is a professional triathlete and two-time Ironman Champion. Rüster Sports manufacturers the Hen House bicycle case, a case that meets airline requirement standards and the Dimond Bicycle, a triathlon specific bike.
Top Growth Company: BirdDogHR is a talent management software and managed services company based in Urbandale. BirdDogHR helps companies attract and hire top talent; engage employees with goal setting and performance reviews and meet compliance reporting standards. In 2015, the company increased staffing by 35%, added 200 new customers and was named to Inc. Magazine’s list of America’s fastest growing private companies.
Dennis Albaugh Award: Clint Dudley, Shade Tree Auto provides mechanical auto repair for import and domestic vehicles. Shade Tree Auto has been named a American Automobile Association (AAA) Top Shop four years in a row. The company is building a new facility in Grimes that will triple current capacity.
Click here to see videos featuring the 2016 winners.