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To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards

The Kansas Department of Commerce held the 2025 To The Stars: Kansas Businesses Awards on October 16th in Pittsburg. To kick off the awards ceremony, emcee Melissa Vincent recognized two Kansans who have been inducted into the Kansas Business Hall of Fame for their significant contributions to economic growth. This year’s contemporary honoree was Marci Penner, a rural champion and author from Inman who is executive director of the Kansas Sampler Foundation. The historical honoree was Emerson Carey, Sr., an entrepreneur and philanthropist from Hutchinson known as a salt manufacturer and industrial leader.

At the end of the awards ceremony, the agency introduced a new award, the Randi Tveitaraas Jack International Business Development Award. It will recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions advancing Kansas in the global economy. The award was named in honor of Randi Tveitaraas Jack, who recently retired from the Kansas Department of Commerce after more than 37 years of outstanding service to the state. The agency recognized James “Jamie” Hall, Vice President of Great Plains Manufacturing in Salina, as the inaugural recipient.

Regional & Merit Award Winners

Business Hall of Fame

Press Release

Photography

2025 Governor’s Exporter of the Year

In 1987, two Salina engineers transformed the way environmental sites are investigated by designing and manufacturing a faster, easier, and safer sampling system, gaining Geoprobe Systems® worldwide reputation as a drilling industry leader. Continual innovation of new rigs, tools, and techniques means Geoprobe Systems® provides solutions to a growing number of customers in a growing number of drilling industries. From their three Salina campuses and three out-of-state service centers, Geoprobe Systems® maintains the tradition of engineering and manufacturing low-volumes of high-quality products designed to improve the lives of their customers across the nation.

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2025 Governor’s Award of Excellence

Grey Snow Management Solutions, named after the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, who self describe as Baxoje – Ba meaning “snow” and Xoje describing “ashes or ash-colored” – is the tribe’s economic development enterprise created to manage, build, support and enhance tribal sovereignty, and provide expert services for government and commercial clients nationwide.

Since 2019, GSMS has strategically diversified its portfolio of companies to address the needs of ours and each community throughout Indian Country in the areas of infrastructure, workforce development, energy sovereignty, food sovereignty, government support and economic development.

Recognizing the extraordinary need for transparency and accountability, GSMS works with federal, state, local and tribal governments to deliver diverse economic solutions for short-term and long-term goals. Grey Snow’s mission is to provide sustainable, responsible, and profitable services for the cultural and financial betterment of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska and all of Indian Country.

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Event Photography

Backdrop Photos

Candid Photos

2025 Statewide Winners

Liquid Art Winery and Estate | AgriBusiness | Statewide Winner

American Implement | Apprenticeship Champions & Partners | Statewide Winner

Shed Lifestyles | Business Innovation | Statewide Winner

Special Olympics Kansas, inc. | Healthcare/Nonprofit | Statewide Winner

Grand Central Hotel and Grill | Mainstreet Momentum | Statewide Winner

LeDuc Memorial Designs | Manufacturing/Distribution | Statewide Winner

AllMetal Recycling, LLC | Non-Traditional Talent Pools | Statewide Winner

Grey Snow Management Solutions | Retail/Service | Statewide Winner

Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center, Inc. | Small Business Champion – Corporate Partner | Statewide Winner

Braiden Werth – Werth Eye Group | Under 30 Entrepreneur | Statewide Winner

Davey and Kim Froman – Miners & Monroe | Welcome Back to Kansas | Statewide Winner

Regional Award Winners

Agribusiness

Kansas City
Seaboard Corporation

Northeast
JET Produce and Meats

Northwest
The Red Cow Mercantile at B & D Ranch Co.

South Central
Kansas Ethanol

Southeast
Farmers’ Cooperative Association

Southwest

Hi Plains Feed

Apprenticeship Champions and Partners

Kansas City
Kansas Department of Education

North Central
KFB Rural Kansas Apprentice Program

Northeast
Kansas Rural Water Association

South Central
Plumbers & Pipefitters Apprenticeship Training

Southeast
Crossland Construction

Business Innovation

Northwest
Plainview Beef Co. LLC

South Central
Midwest Electrical Transformer Services

Southeast
CDL Electric Company, Inc.

Healthcare/Non-profit

North Central
Leadership Mitchell County

Northeast

Always and Furever Midwest Animal Sanctuary Spring Hill

Northwest
Jana’s Place

South Central
Rice County Community Foundation

Southeast
The Kitchen Collective + Collaborative

Southwest
Main Street Dodge City

Mainstreet Momentum

Kansas City

Avenue Collective

North Central
Hillside Group, LLC

Northeast
PK Country Designs

Northwest
Night & Gale Med Spa

Southeast
Shary’s Pub and Grub

Southwest

Cottonwood Coffeehouse

Manufacturing/Distribution

Kansas City

Harlan Global Manufacturing

Northeast
SplashTacular, LLC

Northwest
Bluestem Quarry & Stoneworks

South Central
Plastics Extrusion Machinery, LLC

Southeast
Labconco Corporation

Southwest

Midway Manufacturing Inc

Non-Traditional Talent Pools

Kansas City
Nautical Manufacturing and Fulfillment

Northwest
The Arc of Central Plains

Retail/Services

Kansas City
Tico Productions, LLC

North Central
Ginger’s Uptown

Northwest

Newell Plumbing and Electric

South Central
Wray & Son’s Roofing

Southeast
BAJA Management Corp

Southwest
Fast Lane Cleaning

Under 30 Entrepreneur

Kansas City
Damien Denmark | Southwind Marketing Group

Northeast
Keith Myers | H+K Homes and Pro Codes

South Central
Michael Glenn | The Hutchinson Tribune

Southeast
Alexis Seabolt | Wildflower Chiropractic

Southwest

Scarlett Real | SWK Fitness LLC

Welcome Back

Kansas City
Emily and Reggie Berry | Berry’s Golf and Groove

North Central
JP Metzler | RMA Engineering

Northwest
Chris Mcgowne | Mcgowne & Uhric

South Central

Nick Rotola | The Scroll Happy App

Merit Award Winners

Agribusiness

South Bend Industrial Hemp

Win Biologics

Lulabelle’s Flower Farm

Pumpkin Pants Ranch

Fat Bastard (FB) Farms

Leafy Green Farms

Rawhide Portable Corral Inc.

Grey Snow Agricultural Services / Iowa Tribe of Kansas & Nebraska

Prairie Food

Bauman’s Cedar Valley Farms

Farms by Amber

Naturion

Seaboard Corporation

Purple Meadows Lavender Farm and Talk Ta Me Floral

Rogers Crop Insurance

JET Produce and Meats

Red’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch

Double H Performance Horses

Kansas Maze, Inc.

Kauffman Seeds

Good Karma Micro-Dairy, LLC

Farms by Amber, LLC

Golden Waves Grain, LLC

Springer Family Foods

Apprenticeship Champions and Partners

Michelle Ruder – WSU Tech

Temp-Con

HCA Midwest Health – REgional Medical Center, Menorah Medical Center

Kansas Rural Water Association

Wifco Steel Products

1 Vision Aviation

Bombardier (Learjet Inc.)

John J. Clark – Wichita Plumbers and Pipefitters

Bailey’s Learning Academy LLC

Decker Electric

Bombardier

The Good Game

Ares CDL Institute

Business Innovation

Monarch Cement

SCTelcom, South Central Telephone Association, Inc.

Apex Stages

Leafy Green Farms

Albatross Golf, Inc

Livestock Lens LLC

Toucan Talent, LLC

Cyphr

Marma Health

Toucan Talent LLC

NvisionKC

MALLIE BOUSHAYE ESSENTIALS

Attentive Science, LLC

Wrax Inc

Bill and Essie’s BBQ

Dacus Auto Body & Collision Repair

Grass Roots Garden Hub & Floral, Community Kitchen, Pumpkin Patch

SDI/MAPS (Service Data Inc, Mid America Point of Sale)

Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc.

MOXI Junction

BenefitsMe

Thumbscore Inc.

Wichita Paramotor LLC

FindMyDirectDoctor LLC

Invenergy, LLC & ITC

The Grind Coaching & Consulting

Yes! Athletics

Eastside Innovation Kansas LLC

Healthcare/Non-profit

Barber County United, Inc.

The Kitchen Collective + Collaborative

Healthy Bourbon County Action Team

The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team / Rural Community Partners

Clay County Animal Rescue & Education Center, Inc. (CCARE)

RIDINGS HEALTHCARE, LLC

Feelin’ It Chiropractic

The Running CollectiveConeflower Consulting

Murry Mobile Lab LLC

Hays Medical Center

Exhale Bodywork & Massage

Gifted Care Service LLCHPCO HEART

Johnson County Christmas Bureau

Mouré Counseling & Care

Integrated Psychiatric Consultants, P.A.

Rigler Care LLC dba Senior Helpers of Johnson County

Jenkins Dentistry for Kids

Senior Life Solutions Kingman Healthcare Center

Stronghold Food Pantry

North Lyon County veterans memorial, Inc.

High Plains Wellness

Sunflower Medical Clinic

Always and Furever Midwest Animal Sancturary

Mitchell County Regional Medical Foundation

Leadership Mitchell County

Nemaha Valley Community Hospital

Richey’s Drug Store

Pawnee Valley Community Hospital

Flint Hills Foster Teen Camp

Clothed in Compassion, Corp.

Central Christian School

Revive Chiropractic & Acupuncture

The Wesley

Clothed in Compassion, Corp.

KM Coaching & Consulting LLC

Pivotal Health & Wellness, Inc.

Rice County Community Foundation

HirePaths

Victory Clinic

Restoration Health & Chiropractic

Grassroots Art Center

Switchgrass Art Coop

Heidi Feyerherm-Smith

South Central Kansas Economic Development District, Inc. (SCKEDD)

Eric Hurlock

The TOUCH Closet IncCairn Health, Inc.

Network Kansas

Empower

Quivira Council, Boy Scouts of America

Destination Innovation, Inc.

NXTUS

Juniper Arts Academy

GoCreate

Young Men’s Christian Organization of Salina

Kansas Masonic Foundation

Omni Circle Group

Cosper’s Day Service L.L.C.

Merit Weight Loss

Positive Connections

Dream Acres, Inc.

Amber Med Restore Physical Therapy and Wellness, LLC

KSDS Assistance Dogs, Inc.

Mainstreet Momentum

The Iola Register, Inc.

Rainey’s Arcade

Cohn’s Cafe and Mercantile

Sharky’s Pub and Grub

Gearhead Curios

Majestic Service Truck Stop and Restaurant

Simply Scoops

Urban Hikes KC

Clyde Ideal Market

Eagles Nest Incorporated

RACKETS TAP HOUSE INC

Hillcreek Market

Tree Top Security

The Sno Cone Shop

Farmhouse Fresh

Jessica Bridgewater Photography

Ninnescah LLC

First City Soda

Redlogic Communications, Inc.

Emporia Main Street

Rhubarb Market Coffeehouse & Roasters

S&S MedSpa

The Good Merchant

Kitchen 64

Magnolia Scents by Design

Ane Mae’s Coffee and Sandwich Shop

PK Country Designs

Redux Bert & Wetta Sales Inc

Leu + CoSalt City Brewery

Jackson Meat

Sandhills Brewing

A5 Western Hutchinson

Harley’s Bicycles

Mike’s Barber Shop

Parkside Station

BHS Construction

TheraPie LLC

Mid-America Bank

PawPrints Pet Supply

Utopia Modern Salon Suites

De Soto Veterinary Clinic

Main Street Stering

Tortuga Brewing Company

Tee Box

AO NOLA PRALINE CANDY LLC

Prairie Fire Coffee Roasters

DBA Main Street Mercantile

The Salty Sow

Eyed Cricket Coffee, LLC

The Wake Me Up at the Gathering Place

The Nowhere Grill

NDGA National Glass Museum

Birdies Co. A Local Collective

Manufacturing/Distribution

Walnut River Brewing Co.

MicroMansions

Rocky acre buildings, Inc.

Progressive Products, Inc.

EaglePicher Technologies

Serrmi Products LLC

HIX Corporation

JAWBats, LLC

Cloud Storage Corp.

RANS Designs, Inc.

Broce Manufacturing

Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company, LLC

Maze Freight Solutions

Notes to Self, LLC

C & R MFG., Inc.

Seats, Inc.

Grandview Cabinetry

Plastics Extrusion Machinery, LLC (PEM)

PTMW Inc.

Automation Controls, Inc.

Superior Holding

Bluestem Quarry & Stoneworks

Eric Eakins, TEC Systems Group

Mini-Mac Inc.

Yes! Athletic

Kansas Castings, Inc

Western Cooperative Electric

Ultra Tech Aerospace

Harlan Global Manufacturing

Non-Traditional Talent Pools

Permanent Records

Topeka Renaissance Festival LLC

Retail/Services

The Hitching Post

Iola Dairy Queen – Treat

Iola Pharmacy, Inc.

Jammin’ Nutrition

Red Dirt Jack’s

Farmers Union Midwest Agency

Blissful Aesthetics & Wellness

The After Affect Salon

BAJA Management Corporation

K. Westphal Jewelers

Mr. Mixer

T-Bar Mercantile, LLC

Gearhead Curios, LLC

Ginger’s Uptown

Artistic Designs The PURPLE Door

Elk Creek Gardens, LLC

Granny’s Chip Chocolate Ice Cream, LLC

The Blue Spoon

TOAST, LLC

The Hive Salon

Burns Productions

Mammoth, Inc.

Local @ 615

The Yarn Barn of Kansas

Grabbe Law Office

Soulspring Spa and Wellness, LLC

SWK Fitness, LLC

MC Bin Cleaners, LLC

The Ivory Elephant Boutique

MC Bin cleaners, LLC

Schwarz general store and feed

LOVING ARMS DAYCARE CENTERS, INC.

Reeses Enterprises, Inc.

Abner’s

Hanston Insurance Agency

Top Notch, Inc.

Accelefund

Tico Productions, LLC

Moss Printing

C.A.P Creations, LLC

Trip Taxi Cab Driver

Harrison-Lee Development Consulting

Kryger Glass

Acendas Travel

Franklin General Store, LLC

Moody’s Hardware

Sweet Oakes Designs and Home Staging

The Home Store (Babcock MFG)

First City Creatives

Harbor Lights Coffeehouse

Coleman Hardware

Crafty Cactus

Cunningham Fiber

Cami’s Cake Co.

Companion Projects Media

BFObidsSpecial K9 Dog Training & Country Resort

BowerCommWray & Sons Roofing

Woolsey Monument Company

Waggoners, Inc.

Janitorial Solutions

Koalatee Tree Service, LLC

Jackson MeatD’s Duds

Anchor Grill

Reffners

Need A Geek, LLC

Chaffin Electric

Clive’s Staples, LLC

Vista Drive In

The Mesa Collection, LLC

Newell Plumbing and Electric

Schaffer E-Z Mart, LLC

Hair Designs by Kim & Keera

Brant’s Market

AJ Honey Farms LLC

Kansas Hempire Salina

Fast Lane Cleaning, Inc.

Nadine Ward’s Signworks

Haven Restaurant & Lounge

Hunter’s Journey Family Therapy

Here I Go Travel Company

The Bizy Shop

Here I Go Travel Company

Jimmy Buff-It

Coffee Daze

One4UsCouture Salon Parlour

Professional Landscaping Services, LLC

NPWR Training

Compass Marketing & Advertising Partners

Fleuranges Enterprises, LLC

La Creperie Co.

Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home

Yes! Athletics

AO Nola Praline Candy

The Learning Center

Lyons Luxury Parlor

Cross-Eyed Cricket Coffee

ShopNoWhere Grill

Kansas Therapeutics

CREATIVE MINDS CHILD CARE, LLC

Small Business Champion – Corporate Partner

Flex Fitness 24/7

AltCap

Sara Software Systems

Handcrafted by Court

Michelle’s Tax Service

WTC (Wamego Telecommunications Company, Inc.)

Heartland Credit Union

Under 30 Entrepreneur

Wildflower Chiropractic

Two Face Aesthetic

Farmers Union Midwest Agency

Courtneys Customs & Boutique

Saddle & Stitch Designs

Heartland Homes

Icorium Engineering Company

Flex Fitness 24/7

SKILL Pro Lucha

Southwind Marketing Group

O’Leary Window Washing

Eyestone Automotive and Fabrication

H+K Homes / ProCodes

Morgan Flax Agency, Inc.

Sheepdog Brewing Co., LLC

Ness City Opera House

Cancer Council Reno County

Cougars SCCC

Hutch Tribune

Studio T Dance Productions

The Big Blonde Salon

Another Broken Egg Cafe

Thomias Jackson

Local Lens PR

Authentic Media Co.

The learning center

Artzer Accounting and Advisory

Welcome Back

Flex Fitness

Inspired Play Cafe

Scott Mueller

SorWil Technology Solutions

Taryn Chantel Photography

1880 Beef and Wild & Blooming

Matthew Crocker

Nick Rotola

2025 Governor’s Exporter of The Year Finalists

SOR Systems

Harlan Global Manufacturing

2025 Kansas Business Hall of Fame Inductees

Marci Penner

Emerson Carey

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