The Kansas Department of Commerce on Thursday held its To the Stars: Kansas Business Awards ceremony in Wichita. The event recognized and celebrated the outstanding contributions of Kansas businesses and businesspeople.
Nearly 300 businesses and individuals were nominated for awards at the ceremony in nine categories, including Agribusiness, Apprenticeship Champions and Partners, Business Innovation, Healthcare/Nonprofit, Manufacturing/Distribution, Non-Traditional Talent Pools, Retail/Service, Under 30 Entrepreneurs, and Welcome Back (recognizing businesspeople who left Kansas but eventually returned).
SurePoint Ag Systems — base out of Atwood, Kan. — won the 2023 Governor’s Award of Excellence. Tank Connection — in Parsons, Kan. — earned the Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award.
“SurePoint Ag Systems and Tank Connection are both advanced manufacturing businesses having great success on the global stage,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “These companies, and all of the To the Stars nominees and award-winners, represent the best of Kansas business. Their success shows that the stars are truly the limit for businesses in our great state.”
A total of 245 Merit Awards and 43 Regional Awards were presented at the event. Additionally, one nominee in each category was designated a Statewide Winner, making them finalists for the Governor’s Award of Excellence.
Nominees were reviewed and scored for various criteria such as business expansion, employee recruitment and retention practices, training and educational programs, capital investments, and support of local community events.
“The Kansas economy is booming because of these innovative entrepreneurs,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “When we talk about Kansas being the best state in the nation to live, work and raise a family, we know it is possible because of great companies driving success in their communities. It is an honor to celebrate their achievements.”
Statewide Award winners recognized at the ceremony included SurePoint Ag Systems – Agribusiness Award; Wheatland Electric Cooperative – Apprenticeship Champions and Partners Award; Phazebreak Coatings – Business Innovation Award; ComfortCare Homes – Healthcare/Nonprofit Award; MaiCo Industries – Manufacturing/Distribution Award; Zephyr Products – Non-Traditional Talent Pools Award; B’s Hometown Market – Retail/Service Award; Dr. Megan Bartley, Clothed in Compassion – Under 30 Entrepreneur and Businessperson Award; and John Boucard, Tesseract Ventures – Welcome Back Award.
NORAG and Lubrication Engineers were also recognized as finalists for the Exporter of the Year award.
Click here for the full list of To The Stars: Kansas Business Award winners.
