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The Bloch School at UMKC, through its Council for Entrepreneurship and
Innovation,
has celebrated international and local entrepreneurship since 1985
through its annual Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Dinner. This
event celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit by honoring continued
innovative and creative accomplishments.
Garmin • Dr. Min Kao
International Entrepreneur of the Year
Garmin, the global leader in satellite navigation,
prides itself on the founding principles of innovation, convenience,
performance, value and service. The idea for Garmin began in 1989
with a vision for user-friendly satellite navigation devices shared
by a handful of engineers around a card table. Today, through the
entrepreneurial spirit and direction of co-founders Gary Burrell and
Dr. Min Kao, Garmin has grown into a successful company that employs
more than 8,500 associates worldwide and has sold over 31 million
GPS navigation devices. More than 2,500 associates work together in
the Kansas City area, providing their talents to research and
development, administration, product support, marketing and aviation
unit manufacturing. Garmin received the 2007 Ad Astra Award from the
State of Kansas and was named the number one company in the Kansas
City Star “Star 50” business ranking in both 2007 and 2008. Garmin’s
goal remains the same today as it was at inception: to create
navigation, communication and information devices that enrich
customers’ lives.
RED Development • Dan Lowe
Regional Entrepreneur of
the Year
RED Development was founded in 1995 with the vision
of creating outdoor lifestyle shopping centers like its flagship development, The Legends at Village West in Kansas
City, Kan. To date, RED has been responsible for more than 30
centers throughout the country, totaling more than 16
million square feet that are either open, under construction or in
development. Throughout its 13-year history, RED has maintained a
focus on quality, innovation and superlative tenant relationships
with top-flight national retailers. Under the guidance of
Dan Lowe, RED has grown to more than 200 employees. Lowe is also
very active within the Kansas City community, having
provided extensive support to many organizations including: ReStart;
The American Cancer Society; The Gift of Life
Foundation; Jazz in the Woods; and The Boys and Girls Clubs of
Greater Kansas City. RED is also this year’s presenting sponsor for the
Duck Derby to benefit The Learning Center of Kansas City.
Marion and John Kreamer Award • Irv and Ellen
Hockaday
Entrepreneurship in Volunteer Community Service
The Hockadays have devoted endless time, expertise
and resources to help drive and support important Kansas City initiatives, including the Kansas City Life Sciences
Institute; the Ellen J. Hockaday Center for Women’s Care; the Kansas
City Partnership to Advance Pediatric Palliative Care;
the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art and The Friends of Chamber Music.
Each year the
Council also honors a
Student Entrepreneur of the Year,
presenting a
$2,000 Entrepreneurial Award to an upper division or graduate student for significant entrepreneurial
achievement.
For more information about the Bloch School’s
Entrepreneur of the Year, past and present, go to
www.bloch.umkc.edu/eoy.
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