BUSINESSES OF THE YEAR
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Local business growth is the foundation of the local economy and we think it is important to celebrate those businesses giving back to the local economy. The Lawrence Business Magazine Foundation Awards with presenting sponsor INTRUST Bank were established in 2012 to recognize growth in local businesses: Businesses that are located in Douglas County, have been in business a minimum of three years, and shown growth through job creation. In 2023 with the 10th Anniversary Foundation Awards we added two new awards:The Minority-Owned Business Foundation Impact Award & The Woman-Owned Business Foundation Impact Award
The 2026 Foundation Awards Honors Local Businesses that are:
- Located in Douglas County,
- Have been in business a minimum of three years, and
- Shown growth in employment by 20% or 20 employees from January 1 to December 31, 2025.
To submit a form, simply fill out the information in the form below, providing as much information as possible.
THE MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS FOUNDATION IMPACT AWARD
Minority-Owned (as defined by the State of Kansas) Business Foundation Impact Award honors local businesses located in Douglas County and have been in business a minimum of three years, and shown stability or growth in employment over the past year as well as making a focused impact in support of the community. NOTE: You do not have to be a FOUNDATION AWARD WINNER to receive this award.
THE WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS FOUNDATION IMPACT AWARD
Woman-Owned (as defined by the State of Kansas) Business Foundation Impact Award honors local businesses located in Douglas County and have been in business a minimum of three years, and shown stability or growth in employment over the past year as well as making a focused impact in support of the community. NOTE: You do not have to be a FOUNDATION AWARD WINNER to receive this award.
RECOGNITION
IN RECOGNITION, HONOREES RECEIVE
• Foundation Award at Ceremony
• 4 complimentary tickets to the ceremony
• Recognition in Lawrence Business Magazine
• Press notification of all recipients
For any questions or further clarification, please contact: editor@lawrencebusinessmagazine.com.
2026 FOUNDATION AWARD EVENT
Keynote Speaker: Tim Cowden, President & CEO,
Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC)
Date: March 31, 2026
Location: Maceli’s, 1031 New Hampshire Street
Attire: Business/Business Cocktail
Time:
4:30 to 6 – Cocktail Reception and KLWN Red Carpet Interviews
6 to 7:30 – Keynote Speaker and Awards Presentation
Additional event information will be updated here as it is finalized.
CLICK HERE FOR SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION
If you want to be a 2026 Sponsor
EMAIL: editor@lawrencebusinessmagazine.com
Businesses Supporting Local Businesses
2026 Foundation Award Sponsors:
PRESENTING SPONSOR: INTRUST Bank;
SPECIAL IMPACT AWARDS SPONSOR: Bob Signt Automotive Group, Blue Cross Blue Shield Kansas
FOOTPRINT AWARD SPONSOR: Hemel Electric;
PILLAR SPONSOR: Maceli’s;
CORNERSTONE SPONSORS: MIDCO Business, Ricks Advanced Dermatology and Skin Surgery;
BRICK SPONSORS:
Alpha Roofing, Bishop Business, City Wine Market, The Chamber,
Express Employment Professionals, Grandstand, Pine Landscape Center,
Sigler Pharmacy, SSC CPAs and Advisors;
MORTAR SPONSORS:
23rd Street Brewery, BridgeHaven, Crown Automotive,
Johnny’s Tavern and J. Wilson’s, KU Alumni Association, KU Innovation Park, KLWN,
New Heights Therapy, Paul Davis Law Firm, Paul Werner Architects,
Stephens Real Estate, UPS Store #2582 Parkway Commons, YellowBug
FOUNDATION AWARD CELEBRATIONS:
First Annual Foundation Awards – 2014
Second Annual Celebration – 2015
Third Annual Celebration – 2016
Fourth Annual Celebration – 2017
Fifth Annual Celebration – 2018
Sixth Annual Celebration – 2019
Seventh Annual Celebration – 2020
Eighth Annual Celebration – 2021 (canceled due to safety concerns)
Ninth Annual Celebration – 2022 (canceled due to safety concerns)
Tenth Annual Celebration – 2023
11th Annual Celebration – 2024
12th Annual Celebration – 2025
- Ali’s Cleaning
- Alpha Roofing
- Amarr
- Atma Clinic
- Ballard Center
- Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center
- Bracker’s Good Earth Clays
- Bridge Haven
- Childrens Advocacy Center of Douglas County
- Coneflower Consulting
- Construction Specialties
- Critter Control of Kaw Valley
- Fagan & Emert
- Good Energy Solutions
- Heartland Community Health Center
- Hemel Electric
- Icorium Engineering Company
- LRM Foundation
- Northside Social
- P1 Construction
- Peaslee Tech
- Petz Accounting Services
- PROSOCO
- Ricks Advanced Dermatology and Skin Surgery
- Rueschhoff Security
- SERC Physical Therapy
- Sound Speech Therapy
- Speech Solutions
Alpha Roofing
(Five-Time Foundation Award Recipient)
Foundation Impact Award Winner:
Bridge Haven, Chaitanya Museum, MD, Owner
Foundation Impact Award Winner:
Sound Speech Therapy, Kimberly Williams, Owner
- 1900 Barker
- Atma Clinic
- Bates Company
- Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center
- BioData Solutions, LLC
- Body Specific
- Bracker’s Good Earth Clays
- eXplore Lawrence
- Gaskins Photography Collection
- Good Energy Solutions, Inc.
- Heartland Community Health Center
- Holman Needle & Ink
- JEO Consulting
- Kessler Contractors
- La Estrella Mexicana
- Lawrence Farmers Market
- Pine Landscape Center
- Rueschhoff Security
- SERC Physical Therapy
- Sigler Pharmacy
- Sound Speech Therapy
- Uplift Coffee
Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center
Foundation Impact Award Winner:
Leeway Franks & Butcher, Lee Meisel, Owner
Foundation Impact Award Winner:
Pine Landscape Center, Kathy Pine, Owner
- 1900 Barker
- Atteberry Eye Centers
- Berry Global
- Bridge Haven Memory Care Homes
- Caramelo – MO
- Construction Specialties
- Feldmeyer Financial – MO
- Good Energy Solutions
- JEO Consulting Group
- Kessler Contractors
- LaEstrella Mexicana – MO
- Lawrence Pet Friends – WO
- Maceli’s Banquet Hall – Arterra
- Prairie Land Insurance
- SERC Physical Therapy
- Sound Speech Therapy – WO
- Standard Beverage
- Uplift Coffee Shop – WO
- UPS-store
Foundation Impact Award Winner:
Life Restoration Ministries, Nicole Rials, Owner
Foundation Impact Award Winner:
Express Employmet Professionals, Kate Chinn, Owner
- Alpha Roofing
- Apex Engineers, Inc
- Body Specific
- Bracker’s Good Earth Clays
- Construction Specialties, LLC
- Deciphera Pharmaceuticals
- Dempsey’s Burger Pub
- Design, Analysis and Research – DAR Corp.
- Edmonds Duncan Registered Investment Adv.
- Express Employment Professionals
- Good Energy Solutions, Inc.
- Happy Shirt
- Kennedy Glass, Inc.
- M Cubed Technologies
- Pelvic Health Specialists
- Rainbow International Restoration of NE KS
- Standard Beverage
Good Energy Solutions, Inc.
- Bates Company
- Blue Collar Pes
- Brand New Box
- Bridge Haven Memory Care
- Build SMART
- Drs. Dobbins & Letourneau Eye Care Lawrence
- Free State Dental
- Keith Ely and Associates, Inc. dva KEA Advisors
- Koprince Law
- M Cubed Technologies
- Solomon & Associates, Ameriprise Financial
- Alpha Roofing
- Build SMART
- Edmonds Duncan Registered Investment Adv.
- Good Energy Solutions, Inc.
- Kennedy Glass, Inc.
- KW Integrity
- Paul Werner Architects
- Pine Landscape Center
- Pioneer Ridge Retirement Community
- Prairie Land Insurance
- Alpha Roofing
- DEW-Drink Eat Well
- Essential Goods
- Laser Logic
- Lawrence Sign Up
- Love Grub Dog Food
- M Cubed Technologies
- PixNinja LLC
- Rainbow International Restoration of NE Kansas
- Ramen Bowls
- Summers, Spencer & Company
- TherapyWorks
- Wonder Fair
- Bridge Haven Memory Care
- Design Brilliance
- Express Employment Professionals
- Good Energy Solutions, Inc.
- Home Instead Senior Care
- Minuteman Press
- Rainbow International Restoration of NE Kansas
- RD Johnson Excavating
- Select One Security
- Summers, Spencer & Company
- Advanced Plumbing, Inc.
- AesthetiCare of Lawrence
- Alpha Roofing
- Bigg’s
- Cromwell Environmental
- Good Energy Solutions, Inc.
- Griffith Payments
- Next Level Baseball Academy
- Printing Solutions
- Silverback
- The Summit
- Treanor Architects
- 360 Energy Engineers, LLC
- ComfortCare Homes of Baldwin City
- Danielsan Electric, LLC
- Googols of Learning
- Kurt Goeser State Farm Insurance
- Massage Envy SPA
- OrthoKansas, LLC
- Paradise Carpet One
- Pawsh Wash and Pet Health Market
- Pennington & Company
- struct/restruct,llc
- The Crystal Image
- The Granada
- The Results Companies