23rd Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge Recipients
The Amarillo Community came together on the evening of March 22, 2018 to celebrate the growth of five local entrepreneurs at the 23rd Annual Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge Awards Ceremony. Five local entrepreneurs were selected as the 2018 recipients of the Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge by five independent judges based on their professional business plans and presentations for investment.
Participants of the challenge went through a challenging six-month program and several submissions before submitting a 20-page business plan to a panel of independent judges. After they were selected as a finalist, they presented a 10-minute pitch to the judges for the opportunity of investment from the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation.
The 2018 Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge Recipients:
Owner: Kent & Meagan Harris
Blue Sage manufactures handmade funerary urns as well as stoneware pottery for the kitchen, table and garden and distributes nation-wide. They utilize ancient traditions and processes to hand make all of their pieces and give them a unique one of a kind touch.
President: Dr. Emily Hunt
Team: Benton Allen, Paige Earl, (not pictured) Trent Kelly
Buffalo Technology Group specializes in providing antimicrobial solutions to industry leaders in the oil and gas, department of defense, aerospace, and construction materials industries.
Owner: Dusty Hunsaker & Dylan Strain
Team: Shelly Hunsaker
DDGrid, LLC is a full-service utility contractor providing electrical substation construction services to major utility, renewable energy, electrical cooperatives, and privately-owned companies.
Owner: Steve & Cindy Dunivan
Team: Ethan Long, Kristi Dunivan
Midwest Machine, LLC specializes in welding, fabrication, machining, and custom machine design. Midwest Machine engineers and develops automated machinery used in a wide range of industries with the majority of machines saws utilized in meat packing plants across the country.
Owner: Dwight Buckles
Trekmate manufactures an ultra-lightweight, adventure trailers for the outdoor markets in a custom and creative fashion.
Judges for the 2018 Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge include:
Dr. Amjad Abdullat, WTAMU Paul & Virginia Engler College of Business
Steve Bowen, Happy State Bank
Barry Lynch, Waypoint Advisory Services
Brad Martin, Community Leader
Mindi McLain, Burdett, Morgan, Williamson, & Boykin, LLP
To date, through the Amarillo EnterPrize Challenge program, 91 businesses have received cash grants of as much as $100,000 each, totaling more than $5.9 million in grants over the past 22 years. In addition, these companies have received more than $17.4 million in additional equity capital since receiving their grants. Reporting firms have 717 employees and generated $125 million of revenue for the Amarillo economy.
