TOPEKA – The Kansas Small Business Development Center will recognize the 2020 Kansas SBDC Small Businesses of the Year at the state Capitol in Topeka on Thursday, March 5. Mind Sculpt Games, located at 4908 10th St. in Great Bend, will be recognized as the Emerging Business of the Year for the Fort Hays State University coverage region.
Every year, eight regional Kansas SBDC offices nominate their existing, emerging and exporting businesses of the year. This year’s nominees were selected from more than 2,400 businesses that received advising services from the Kansas SBDC in 2019. Those nominated will be recognized at the annual E3 Small Business Awards ceremony.
“The selected businesses were chosen through careful consideration by our Kansas SBDC regional directors and advisors,” said Greg Panichello, Kansas SBDC state director. Mind Sculpt Games is a local face-to-face game store created in June 2017. Daniel and Darcy Leech of Mind Sculpt Games worked with Richard Feltenberger of the Fort Hays State SBDC before opening their business. Mind Sculpt Games carries products such as board games, card games, miniatures, paints, puzzles, role playing games, comics and Legos.
“Rick helped us with demographic data for our region, a break-even analysis of our startup costs, and some advice in choosing our location. Since then the SDBC has helped us look at our floor plan, traffic flow and how we merchandise our products on the shelves.” said Darcy Leech, co-owner and operator of the store. “It has been great seeing all the community support in our area to help Mind Sculpt Games grow. Going into our third year of business, we can now offer our locals a free chess club, paint nights, puzzle socials, Kid’s Board Game Night Out, regular tournaments for Pokemon, Yugioh and Magic, and so much more. I really enjoy being able to serve our community with face-to-face games and events.”
“Collectively, the Kansas SBDC team believes these 18 small businesses are excellent examples of small businesses that have learned to adapt and succeed in challenging times,” said Panichello.
The businesses, listed with their locations and owners:
Existing Businesses of the Year
The Sweet Granada – Emporia; Kim Redeker
Paisley Pear Wine Bar, Bistro and Market – Hays; Shaun and Heather Musil
Blue Valley Physical Therapy – Overland Park; Ann Todd-Cooper and Ryan Klusman
Young Sign Company – Leavenworth; Ann and John Hoins
ADI Inc. – Chanute; Merrill and Wendy Cunningham
Dodge City Brewing – Dodge City; Larry and Sheri Cook
Connie’s Mexico Café – Wichita; Carmen Renteria, Adele Jordan, and Carla Rosales-Banuelos
The Marie Antoinette Gluten Free Baking Co. – Wathena; Rani Navarro-Force and Shawn Force
Emerging Businesses of the Year
EMP Shield LLC – Burlington; Timothy Carty
Mind Sculpt Games LLC – Great Bend; Daniel and Darcy Leech
LC BioPlastics LLC – Prairie Village; Paul Black
Julie Bear Don’t Walk Acupuncture + Integrative Health – Lawrence; Julie Bear Don’t Walk
Smallville CrossFit – Fort Scott; Aaron and Lindsey Watts
The Red Rock Experience & Venue – Ulysses; Tammy Lane-Reese and Jessica Reese
Ember Technology LLC – Wichita; Jonathan Sanchez and Tariq Azmi
Anneal Initiative Inc. – Topeka; Amy Billinger, Jeremy Jackson, and Jennie Jackson
Exporting Businesses of the Year
SkuTouch Solutions LLC – Lenexa; Doug and Terry Obershaw
Progressive Products Inc. – Pittsburg; Todd Allison
For more information on the Kansas SBDC, contact Panichello at 785-296-6514 or visit www.kansassbdc.net.
