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Local entrepreneurs recognized at banquet / The News-Enterprise

November 16, 2017 By kentuckysheart

Source: The News-Enterprise

Local entrepreneurs grabbed the spotlight Tuesday night during the second Hardin County Entre­pre­­neurial Awards Banquet.

Kentucky Innovation Network regional director Lisa Boone said the banquet is a way to celebrate the entrepreneurship spirit, from young startups to established, successful companies.

The event, which was hosted by the Kentucky Innovation Net­work and the Small Business De­v­elopment Center with the help of several sponsors, took place during Global En­tre­pre­neur­ship Week and recognized several local businesspeople for their ventures.

Taking home the Dr. Robert E. Robbins Entrepreneur of the Year award of the night and receiving a standing ovation were Mike and Dana Bowers. The two currently are man­aging their most re­cent successful startup: Ven­minder.

In presenting the award, Re­bec­ca Wheel­ing, past recipient of Start­up of the Year, said the two are lifelong entrepreneurs.

“They have worked di­l­­i­gently to form their own companies, to create jobs and to promote a culture of en­trepreneur­ism in our region,” she said. “Their selfless devotion to men­toring other aspiring entrepreneurs has been a blessing to so many.”

Dana Bowers said it was an honor to be nom­inated, let alone win an award with Robbins’ name attached to it.

“There is not a person in this room who wouldn’t readily acknow­ledge Dr. Robbins is a legend,” she said.

The Young Entre­pre­neur of the Year award went to Mor­gan Bate­man and Michael Booth of Myo Rejuvenation Med Spa. Taking home an honorable mention was Candace Carpenter, owner of Scarlet Oak Bou­tique.

“Thank you so much. We really don’t know what to say,” Booth said. “I think we can all agree here that being an entre­preneur is not all the glitz and glamour that some people think that it is. They don’t realize the long days, the early mornings, the late nights, working seven days a week just because you have a dream and you want that dream to be a reality.”

Booth said they op­ened their business a lit­tle more than two years ago and recently an­nounced a second location will open in 2018.

“If somebody had told me we would be where we are today back then, I would have thought they were crazy,” he said, noting the progress they have made would not have been possible without the support they have received from the community. “We’re so ex­tremely thankful.”

The 2017 Startup of the Year award went to Bess Outland of A Sweet Retreat Bakery in Rad­cliff. Taking home the hon­orable mention was Michelle Harmon of Fam­ily Fun Cafe and Ice Cream in Radcliff.

The Scale-up of the Year award went to Wen­dy Bellew, owner of Ruffle Girl, and to Bob­bie Crabtree, owner of USA Bridal.

 “Thank you all so much. You don’t do this with­out a lot of great people behind you,” Crab­tree said.

The Cultural Impact Entrepreneur award went to Kelly Emerine. Emerine created a medication management app, Mom’s Med­Minder.

After selling the app for about $160,000, Em­er­ine donated $80,000 to the Hardin Memorial Health Foundation to help purchase 3-D mammography equipment.

Boone said the Cul­tural Impact award was aw­arded to Emerine for changing culture in two ways.

“First, the obvious impact is the lives that will be saved through this new state of the art equipment. But, secondly, she has changed the culture of our com­munity by instilling a sense of philanthropy in other successful entrepreneurs,” she said. “Her generous donation immediately prompted other donations from local entrepreneurs.”

Boone congratulated all those who were nominated “for daring to take the risk and for following your dreams.”

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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