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Archive Business News
Wyoming Business Report
2009 Annual Dinner & Winners of Business Awards
LEDC Annual Dinner & Winners of Business Awards Press Release
Laramie Economic Development Corporation’s Annual Dinner was Friday, May 29., 2009 at the Hilton Garden Inn. This annual event celebrates the successes of doing business in Laramie. Jim Owen, author of Cowboy Ethics and Cowboy Values was the keynote speaker. Owen, who was a featured speaker at the Governor’s Summit on Workforce Development on Thursday night in Jackson, was in Laramie Friday night to speak on the timely topic of “Cowboy Ethics: Getting America Back on Track.”
Winners of the LEDC Business Awards were announced by LEDC CEO Gaye Stockman. The 2009 Small Business of the Year was Alpine Animal Hospital. Dr. David Evertson accepted the award and recounted how they started in Laramie and currently had over 40 employees. In the fall of 2008, Alpine Animal Hospital expanded into their new location at 830 Skyline Road which allowed for new medical technology and an expanded staff as well.
The selection criteria for the Small Business of the Year award is to have been operating for at least two years; contributed time and resources to the community; experienced favorable business health in terms of number of employees and increased sales and general financial condition; and demonstrated entrepreneurial skills by innovation. Over 15 Laramie businesses were nominated by LEDC’s Partners in Progress in addition to nominations by a wide variety of business people around the community.
The winner of the 2009 Business Person of the Year was Gary Crum, President of Wyoming State Bank. With over 18 deserving business people being nominated by the Laramie community, Gary epitomizes the very criteria which was used to select the winner.
This award was open to all individuals who have been in business for over 5 years in Laramie. Consistently demonstrated a high level of community involvement through participation in civic, community, and LEDC oriented project and activities, significantly contributed to the economic health of the community through investment, benevolent support and participation in economic development programs, demonstrated strong managerial skills in dealing with changing economic conditions, and maintained an active leadership role for the employees, peers, and citizens of Laramie.
Survival of the Fittest for 2009 is a special category which recognizes a developing company or an existing company that has undergone a period of adversity; has managed to maintain its’ excellence of service and has provided positive encouragement for employees. Snowy Range Ski Area/First National Bank of Wyoming was announced as the winner for 2009. The Snowy Range Ski area, under the guidance of First National Bank of Wyoming, just completed a very successful ski season after being faced with closure. First National Bank is continuing to look for a solution to keep this valuable community asset open and available as a major recreation resource.
Jack Bedessem, retiring Chairman of the Board of LEDC announced that Don Collins, CEO of Western Research Institute, and Calvin Young, owner of Young Appraisals, were elected to the LEDC Board of Directors. Returning Board members were Jim Cavalli, Co-owner of Aspen-Banner Engineering; Dan Furphy, President of First National Bank of Wyoming; Ray McElwee, Secretary/Treasurer of Groathouse Construction; and Karen Saunders, President of The Mortgage Source.
After receiving a plaque as a retiring LEDC Board Member, Mark Mader, a partner of Mader Tschacher Peterson & Co. LLC, was named Director Emeritus for his long standing involvement in LEDC. Mark joins a distinguished group of Laramie Leaders, including Dr. David Walrath, Dick Van Pelt, Mark Marquardt, Lou Schilt, and John Shuster. Jodi Levin of Qwest also retired from the Board of Directors.
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