The Kansas City Chamber just unveiled its hotly anticipated Top 10 finalists for the 2024 Small Business of the Year honor — surprising leaders from a wide range of industries with their tickets to the next round of the city’s most prestigious business competition.
“This year, 60 candidates applied for awards, and we were awed by the talent and dedication of every one of these innovators,” said Joe Reardon, president and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. “Year after year, it is abundantly clear that our region’s small business community is vibrant and so deserving of recognition.”
The 10 businesses in the running for Small Business of the Year or the “Mr. K Award” — named for iconic Kansas City entrepreneur Ewing Marion Kauffman — were announced Friday morning on social media. Selected business owners were given the news Thursday during an unexpected reveal at UMB Bank, which sponsored the evening’s festivities.
“If we were part of the Top 10, I’d feel like queen for a day,” said Sherry Lumpkins, principal at Blue Symphony, moments before learning her company would advance. “The Chamber is very representative of Kansas City. They get who Kansas City is and being acknowledged by the Chamber would really make me feel like the city loves us.”
“We know we’ve worked hard,” she added. “We want to delight and excite our clients; this kind of validation would say ‘Hey, you are doing it right.'”
Finalist companies include:
The Small Business of the Year winner is set to be announced June 13 at the Small Business Awards Luncheon, at the Westin Crown Center, 1 East Pershing Road, Kansas City.
Click here to learn more about the 2023 Mr. K Award winner.
Check out a Startland News photo gallery from the KC Chamber reveal, then keep reading.
“Small businesses are the engine that drives Kansas City’s economy, and we are ecstatic for this year’s Top 10,” said Reardon. “From recognizing our Small Business Superstars to the public showcase of award candidates, this celebration is an incredible opportunity to continue supporting our small businesses.”
In addition to Small Business of the Year, specialty awards also will be presented at the June event, including:
The KC Chamber Small Business Celebration is recognized as one of the largest small business celebrations in the country. The Small Business of the Year receives the coveted Mr. K Award, named for Ewing Kauffman, entrepreneur and philanthropist. To be named Small Business of the Year signifies that a company has shown growth or sustainability of their business with strong employee relations, a commitment to DEI initiatives, and a record of giving back to the community.
The Awards Luncheon presenting sponsor is Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation; the Small Business presenting sponsor is Evergy; Small Business CEO sponsor is Kansas City National Security Campus, managed by Honeywell FM&T; Small Business Superstars presenting sponsor is EAG Advertising and Marketing.
Startland News is the media sponsor.
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