Posted: Sunday, April 15, 2007 12:00 am
Business leaders garner Bravos
Several Wyoming business leaders received 2007 Bravo Entrepreneurship Awards at the Wyoming Business Alliance/Wyoming Heritage Foundation conference in Casper last week.
Winners demonstrate the best traits of entrepreneurship, including vision, drive, perseverance and willingness to take risks. Winners were named from each of the Wyoming Business Council's six regions of the state.
Winners of the regional Entrepreneurship Awards are:
Southeast: Keith Carron, Laramie. Carron was one of two University of Wyoming chemistry professors who spun off DeltaNu in 1997. DeltaNu manufactures ready-to-use, low-cost, high-performance Ramen Spectrometers.
Southwest: Cindy Johnson, Green River. Johnson's company, Mobilitat, provides computer-aided dispatching and tracking systems for small and mid-sized transit systems around the world.
West Central: Ward and Blake Architects, Jackson. Tom Ward and Mitch Blake have been recognized by the American Institute of Architects for their innovative designs.
Northwest: Ric Asherman, Cody. Asherman started Cody Labs, a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, in 2000. The company employs 45 people and produces the active ingredient for various generic medicines and drugs.
East Central: Alisha Collins, Casper. Collins publishes Tidbits in Casper as well as a Glenrock-Douglas-Wheatland edition.
Northeast Region: Brian Worthan, Gillette. Worthan started Visionary Communications in his basement in December 1994. The firm, which provides Internet access to more than 20,000 customers in 11 states, has since grown to 24 employees.
A Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Homer Scott of Sheridan. Scott's family established the First Interstate Bank of Commerce, which became Interstate Bank in 1984. Scott served as chairman of the board from 1980 until he retired in 2004.
Harvey Jackson of Home & More Magazine in Gillette was named this year's Emerging Entrepreneur.
Randy Bruns of Cheyenne-Laramie County Economic Development Corporation (LEADS) won this year's Governor's Award for Economic Development after a two-year period which saw LEADS help land a new Wal-Mart Distribution Center and the National Center for Atmospheric Research's supercomputer center near Cheyenne.
Pharmaceutical Compounding Specialists of Casper took the IQ Award. The award honors products or services that have demonstrated high degrees of innovation with strong market potential.
Tourism conference set
The Governor's Hospitality and Tourism Conference will be held Monday and Tuesday at the Parkway Plaza in Casper.
The conference will feature a variety of sessions on such topics and motivating and coaching employees, hiring foreign workers and a travel industry outlook.
For details, visit the Web site www.wyominggovernorsconference.com.
Lander firm wins Internet award
For the fourth time in three years, Lander-based YellowstonePark.com has been honored with a major Internet award, according to a press release.
The Interactive Media Awards honored YellowstonePark.com with the "2006 Best of Class" award for travel Web sites from around the world.
According to IMA, the Best in Class award is its highest honor representing the best in planning, execution and overall professionalism of a Web site.
YellowstonePark.com is owned and operated by Yellowstone Journal Corporation, based in Lander.
Tourism council awards grants
Seven local non-profit organizations have been awarded a combined $33,009.50 in grants by the Natrona County Travel and Tourism Council, according to a press release.
The organizations are the Casper Marathon, UPLIFT, Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo, Natrona County School District #1 Robotics Club for a State Lego-Robotics competition in December, Shrine Bowl of Wyoming, Wyoming Coaches Association for All-Star Week and the Wyoming Game and Fish for the Wyoming Hunting and Fishing Heritage Expo in September.
The board manages the 3 percent lodging tax and oversees the Casper Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. The grants are for advertising and marketing assistance or sponsorship of events that generate overnight stays in Natrona County.
Days Inn makes progress
Days Inn of Casper located at I-25 and Center St. has completed the first phase of a renovation project, according to a press release.
The renovations include new furniture, carpet, drapery, fixtures, paint, and granite vanities in half of the guest rooms. The hallways feature new wall vinyl, paint, carpet and sconce lighting. The exterior of the building has been repainted as well.
The second phase of the renovation will begin this fall with a new lobby and the balance of the guest rooms.
The Days Inn is owned and operated by Casper-based Timberline Hospitalities, LLC.
Bankers enter 'Circle of Excellence'
Eleven Wyoming bankers have been named to Bank of the West's Circle of Excellence in recognition of their outstanding sales and service performance in 2006, according to a press release.
They are Guy Agee, Worland; Brooke McWilliams, Worland; Matt Schneider, Worland; Cody Anderson, Rawlins; Jessica Balderas, Powell; Joan Means, Casper; Reagan O'Neal, Sheridan; Patty Miller, Gillette; Cheryl Wolff, Gillette; Volha Pastukhova, Jackson; Mona Thomas, Rock Springs.
Casper salesman three-peats
Tom Brown of Diamond Vogel Paints in Casper has been named "salesman of the year" for his efforts in 2006, according to a press release.
Brown was in competition with other Diamond Vogel salespeople from an area encompassing about 14 states. He became the first three-time winner of the award.
The honor is based on such criteria as exceeding sales goals, customer service and high standards of integrity and ethics.