Business Awards

Honoring KC Companies Achieving Excellence

One of our favorite things to do at the KC Chamber is give regional businesses the public kudos, recognition and encouragement that they deserve. We do this every year for amazing small businesses, companies that serve as role models in diversity and inclusion, and businesses that are going the extra mile to create a healthy workplace.

Small Business Celebration

The KC Chamber Small Business Celebration has been a business community mainstay for more than 30 years. It’s recognized as one of the largest Chamber small business celebrations in the United States. Our Celebration is a series of events where people and companies show support for the small business community within the Kansas City region, resulting in a highly competitive selection of Top 10 Small Businesses. One of these Top 10 companies is judged to be Small Business of the Year and receives the coveted Mr. K Award, named for Ewing Kauffman, entrepreneur and philanthropist, at the Small Business Awards Luncheon. To be named Small Business of the Year signifies that a company that has shown growth or sustainability of their business with strong employee relations and a record of giving back to the community.

Awards Presented

  • The KC Chamber Mr. K Small Business of the Year
  • The KC Chamber Emerging Business Award
  • The KC Chamber Small Business Equity Award
  • The KC Chamber Weida Award for International Small Business of the Year
  • The KC Chamber Legacy of Kansas City Award
  • NEW The Luminary Arts & Creative Small Business Award

Small Business Celebration Events

  • Candidates’ Showcase, Presented by American Century Investments.
  • Top 10 CEO Reception featuring CEOs of the Top 10 Small Businesses, Presented by Bank Midwest.
  • Small Business Awards Luncheon, Presented by Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

2024 Top 10 Small Businesses

Blue Symphony

DMC Services

Next Paige

Overflow

Perfect Promotions

Quantum Resource Professionals

SnapIT

Stellar Image Studio

Taliaferro & Browne

Walz Tetrick

2024 Small Business of the Year and Mr. K Award

The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the 2024 Small Business of the Year is Walz Tetrick Advertising! President & CEO Charlie Tetrick accepted the award June 13 at the Chamber’s Small Business Celebration Awards Luncheon.

2024 Champion of Diversity

H&R Block

Each year at the POWER of Diversity Breakfast, the KC Chamber presents the Champion of Diversity Award, recognizing a regional business that has made an impactful commitment to embrace diversity in their workplace, diversity supplier partnerships, and the community. This Champion of Diversity business will be able to demonstrate their organizational practices are inclusive of all people. The 2024 Champion of Diversity is H&R Block.

2024 Small Business Equity Award:

Taliaferro & Browne

The Small Business Equity Award recognizes a small business who exemplifies diversity, equity and inclusion in their workforce, business practices, and efforts in the community.

We are Taliaferro & Browne (T&B), an award-winning, multi-disciplinary professional service firm specializing in civil & structural engineering, landscape architecture, survey, and inspection. For over 56 years, we have taken pride in providing work that strengthens urban connectivity and improves the overall quality of life. How do we do it? It’s simple: our people are invested, our partnerships are valued, and our projects are proven.

2024 Emerging Business Award:

Cyphr

This award recognizes a company that is less than three years old and demonstrates a high level of entrepreneurial spirit, leadership, perseverance, innovation and determination.

We are driven by a relentless commitment to our vision of a world without funding barriers. As a pioneering force in small business lending, we specialize in delivering turnkey lending and credit solutions tailored to fintechs, lenders, and SaaS companies so that they can deploy capital to those that need it, when they need it.

2024 International Small Business Award:

Shark OFF

This award will go to a small business that recognizes the importance of entering the international marketplace and succeeds in creating a global footprint for our region.

Shark OFF takes proven, effective shark repellent technology and embeds it in attractive, affordable wearable safety devices.

2024 Legacy of Kansas City Award:

Pro Athlete

The Legacy of Kansas City Award honors longevity of 15 years or more in business within the KC region, with a proven record of providing quality products and/or services in the greater Kansas City metro. 

Pro Athlete fosters a dynamic workplace by blending passion for sports with a vibrant culture. They encourage teamwork, innovation, and creativity, integrating fun in the workplace while being renowned for their product expertise and customer service. Pro Athlete creates an engaging environment where employees thrive and enjoy their work.

2024 Luminary Arts & Creative Award:

Wandering Bud

The Luminary Arts & Creative Small Business Award celebrates artist-founded and/or artist-run businesses that produce original work and products and who maintain individual ownership of its intellectual property.

Wandering Bud is a ceramic design and production studio that focuses on bringing highly aesthetic smokeware into the home. Made by hand for the design-conscious cannabis consumer, our ceramic wares compliment home decor, hit like a dream and clean easily.

Past Award Winners

This award goes to a company that has shown growth or sustainability of their business with strong employee relations and a record of giving back to the community.

  • Walz Tetrick Advertising – 2024
  • Parrish & Sons Construction – 2023
  • Chicken N Pickle – 2022
  • Charlie Hustle – 2021
  • Pro Athlete – 2020
  • TREKK Design Group – 2019
  • Lead Bank – 2018
  • Alpha Energy & Electric – 2017
  • k12itc – 2016
  • BNIM – 2015
  • Bishop McCann – 2014
  • Copaken Brooks – 2013
  • Boulevard Brewing Company – 2012
  • SFP – 2011
  • Athletic Rehabilitation Center (now ARC Physical Therapy⌿) – 2010
  • Kansas City Internal Medicine – 2009
  • SunlightenTM (formerly Sunlight Saunas™) – 2008
  • ViraCor – 2007
  • Hoefer Wysocki Architects – 2006
  • S&M NuTec, LLC – 2005
  • LaserCycle InkCycle, Inc. – 2004
  • Datacore Marketing – 2003
  • Strickland Construction – 2002
  • CommuniTech.Net – 2001
  • SKC Communication Products Inc. – 2000
  • Missouri Bank & Trust Company of Kansas City – 1999
  • Marketing Associates International – 1998
  • Gould Evans Affiliates – 1997
  • Worth Harley-Davidson – 1996
  • Robert D. O’Byrne & Associates Inc. (now CBIZ) – 1995
  • Phelps Tool & Die Co., Inc. – 1994
  • Bagel & Bagel Inc. (now Einstein Bros. Bagels) – 1993
  • OTR Express Inc. – 1992
  • Big Bob’s Used Carpet Shops of America Inc. (now Big Bob’s Outlet) – 1991
  • PB&J Corporation – 1990
  • Kansas City Valve & Fitting Co. – 1989
  • Cerner Corporation – 1988
  • Nicholson Kovac – 1987
  • Blankinship Distributors Inc. – 1987

In addition to the Small Business of the Year Award, the KC Chamber now presents four additional awards for small business excellence. These awards are announced at the conclusion of the Small Business Celebration, the KC Chamber’s Small Business Awards Luncheon, each May.

Criteria for each award:

Legacy of Kansas City Award: This award is directed towards honoring longevity, quality products and/or services, and community service in small businesses more than 15 years old in the Kansas City region.

Small Business Equity Award: The Small Business Equity Award recognizes a small business who exemplifies diversity, equity and inclusion in their workforce, business practices, and efforts in the community.

Emerging Small Business of the Year Award: This award recognizes a company that is less than three years old and demonstrates a high level of entrepreneurial spirit, leadership, perseverance, innovation and determination.

Paul Weida Award for International Small Business of the Year: This award will go to a small business that recognizes the importance of entering the international marketplace and succeeds in creating a global footprint for our region. (first awarded in 2016)

2024

  • Legacy of KC Award – Pro Athlete
  • Small Business Equity Award – Taliferro & Browne
  • Emerging Small Business Award – Cyphr
  • Weida International Business Award – Shark OFF
  • Luminary Arts & Creative Award – Wandering Bud


2023

  • Legacy of KC Award – Quantum Resource Professionals
  • Small Business Equity Award – Resolve Counseling and Wellness
  • Emerging Small Business Award – NvisionKC
  • Weida International Business Award – J. Rieger & Co.


2022

  • Legacy of KC Award – DEMDACO
  • Small Business Equity Award – Parrish & Sons Construction
  • Emerging Small Business Award – Bliss Books & Wine
  • Weida International Business Award – KENZEN


2021

  • Legacy of KC Award – Sunlighten
  • Small Business Equity Award – The Next Paige Agency
  • Emerging Small Business Award – The Market Base
  • Weida International Business Award – Sunlighten

2020

  • Legacy of KC Award – BNIM
  • Diverse Small Business Award – CHERRY Co.
  • Emerging Small Business Award – BMG Advisors
  • Weida International Business Award – UltraTech Aerospace


2019

  • Legacy of KC Award – The Roasterie
  • Diverse – Weave Gotcha Covered
  • Emerging Small Business Award – Üdo
  • Weida Internaitonal Business Award – DataLocker


2018

  • Legacy of KC Award – The Robert E. Miller Group
  • Diverse – Veracity Consulting
  • Entrepreneur – Chicken N’ Pickle
  • International – Orbis Biosciences


2017

  • Legacy of KC Award –  Andrews McMeel Universal
  • Diverse Small Business Award – Webb Technology Group 
  • Entrepreneur – J. Rieger Co.
  • International – Alpha Energy & Electric   

2016

  • Legacy of KC Award –  Newmark Grubb Zimmer
  • Diverse Small Business Award – DuBois Consultants, Inc.  
  • Entrepreneur – blooom
  • International – Doodlekit


2015

  • Legacy of KC Award – Curry Real Estate Services
  • Diverse Small Business Award – Whitley Construction Company
  • Entrepreneur – ClaimKit


2014

  • Legacy of KC Award – Ace Imagewear
  • Diverse Small Business Award – Alpha Energy and Electric
  • Entrepreneur – Snow & Co.


2013

  • Legacy of KC Award – IDD InStore Design Display
  • Diverse Small Business Award – Technology Group Solutions
  • Entrepreneur – Centric Projects

Business Award FAQs

In order to be a Top 10 or Small Business Award candidate, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Must be a for-profit business headquartered in the Greater Kansas City area
  • Employ no more than 250 full-time equivalent employees
  • Be committed to good business practices
  • Have grown or sustained employee count and/or sales
  • Have a good history of employee relations
  • Must be a member of the KC Chamber by the time of application. For membership information, contact Membership at (816) 374-5403 or krekel@www.kcchamber.com.

In order to be a part of this opportunity, you will need to prepare a few items for your award application:

  • Your company history
  • Description of your corporate culture
  • Description of your company’s participation in community service and employee engagement programs
  • Description of how you differentiate your company from your competitors
  • Description of where you see your company in 10 years and how you will achieve that goal


The application is available now. For questions regarding the Small Business Awards Application, call (816) 374-5458 or email kulikov@www.kcchamber.com 

The exposure your company gains from participating in the Small Business Celebration is unequaled in the KC region including a complimentary exhibit table at the Candidates’ Showcase event, features in various media outlets, and visibility in KC Chamber publications and website. The Top 10 Small Businesses also participate in a CEO panel discussion to share best practices and insights on successes, obstacles, and company achievements with KC leaders. Additionally, you’ll become well connected with fellow nominees and Small Business Award alumni.

Overall, the small business awards process provides your company the opportunity for brand exposure, access to key business leaders, team camaraderie, and strategic planning. Be sure to give the application a look. Even if you don’t think you’d qualify for Small Business of the Year, you may find yourself in the running for one of our additional awards. The Candidates’ Showcase networking alone and Chamber connections you’ll make through the process can be most valuable.

Legacy of Kansas City Award: This award is directed towards honoring longevity, quality products and/or services, and community service in small businesses more than 15 years old in the Kansas City region.

Emerging Business Award: This award recognizes a company that is less than three years old and demonstrates a high level of entrepreneurial spirit, leadership, perseverance, innovation and determination.

Small Business Equity Award: This award recognizes a small business who exemplifies diversity, equity and inclusion in their workforce, business practices, and efforts in the community.

Paul Weida International Small Business Award: This award will go to a small business that recognizes the importance of entering the international marketplace and succeeds in creating a global footprint for our region. (first awarded in 2016)

The Luminary Arts & Creatives Small Business Award: This award will go to an artist founded and/or artist-run businesses that produce original work and products and who maintain individual ownership of its intellectual property.

If your business does not meet the criteria for Mr. K Small Business of the Year award, there are other ways for your business to be recognized throughout the region through the Small Business Celebration. The Emerging Business of the Year award is available to businesses less than three years old, and the Luminary Arts & Creative Small Business award is available to artist-founded and/or artist-run small businesses that produce original work and products and who maintain individual ownership of its intellectual property.

Resources for Small Businesses

The KC Chamber loves to help small businesses make important connections and find appropriate resources to help their companies grow. You can start by contacting Vicky Kulikov, Director of Small Business, at (816) 374-5458 or kulikov@kcchamber.com.

SMALL BUSINESS CELEBRATION

The Small Business Celebration is a series of events that supports and celebrates the small business community within the Kansas City region. It is recognized as one of the largest Chamber small business celebrations in the United States.

SMALL BUSINESS PRIORITIES

Small businesses who align with the KC Chamber will find their voice amplified in Washington D.C., Jefferson City, Topeka, and KCMO City Hall. You can browse our Public Policy Agendas to learn more about the Chamber’s specific small business priorities.