13th Annual
Spirit of Enterprise Awards
Congratulations to Our Award Winners and Finalists

Even the worst recession since the Great Depression couldn’t stop many businesses in Arizona from boosting our economy and giving back to our community over the past year. On September 24, 2009, ten of the best companies in the state were honored, with five of those being named winners of Spirit of Enterprise Awards for their contributions. The Spirit of Enterprise Center of the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University is proud to present these awards to recognize firms that demonstrate ethics, energy and excellence in entrepreneurship. This year’s finalists were distinctly divided into two groups. One group had survived the last major economic downturn by learning to reinvent themselves and thrive, and the other had emerged since the beginning of this decade by carving out new businesses and seizing new opportunities.

Over 800 Valley business and community leaders were on hand on September 24th for the awards luncheon at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix when the winners were first announced.

The 13th Annual Spirit of Enterprise Award Winners

Answer-1 Communications – Innovation in Entrepreneurship Award. This telephone answering and remote receptionist service provides top-notch customer service. It has also embraced new technology over three decades, thriving every time its industry was faced with major changes. In addition, employees participate in two community benefits each month.

Caliente Construction, Inc. – Overcoming Adversity Awardsponsored by the Arizona Lottery. When the company’s founder became terminally ill, rather than selling off the business, his wife chose to support their employees and prove that a woman-owned construction company could succeed in a male-dominated industry. The firm now has a repeat-client/client-referral rate above 85 percent. This year, it has actually added employees and expects to see a 20-percent increase in revenue, despite the recession.

D. P. Electric, Inc., – Gary L. Trujillo Minority Enterprise Award, sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. This fast-growing electrical contractor has a safety incentive program and an employee profit-sharing program. It also features an in-house mentoring program designed to help other minority businesses.

Express Digital Solutions, – Special Achievement in Entrepreneurship Award. This authorized Xerox Corp. Agency also specializes in electronic document management and paper document scanning. The company partners with Gompers Habilitation center to employ more than 30 adults with disabilities.

Terralever, – Emerging Entrepreneur Award sponsored by U.S. Bank. This award-winning marketing and technology services firm is an interactive partner with big names, including Facebook and Microsoft. However, it also has a goal of helping small local companies with world-class online marketing strategies.

The 13th Annual Spirit of Enterprise Award Finalists

Elontec – Technology, telecommunications, and commercial relocation

Green Ideas - Environment building consultants

JSL Management – Towing, scrap metal, and auto recycling

Orchard Medical Consulting – Health Care Consulting, nurse case & workers’ compensation case management

Scott Business Group, LLC. – Recruiting, temp staffing and payroll services

Thank you to our Sponsors!

STEP (Student Teams for Entrepreneurship Projects)

Our annual awards are just one focus of the Spirit of Enterprise Center, which helps hundreds of businesses each year. Through our STEP Program we offer companies the chance to work with top student talent, while also allowing students to get hands-on business experience. Each semester, teams of W. P. Carey School of Business undergraduate and graduate students conduct research to help Valley companies.

Our next deadline for company submissions is November 15, 2009. Due to the limitations of class sizes and the need to match students with appropriate learning content, not all submissions can be accepted. For additional information about Spirit and STEP, please visit www.spiritofenterprise.org., click on Our Programs, then click on STEP.

In Memoriam

September 26, 1974 - October 1, 2009

To the Spirit Family,

It is with great sadness that I must inform you that Andy Richter of Terralever passed away on Thursday, October 1st. Andy, and Terralever founder, Chris Johnson, had just received their Spirit of Enterprise Award as Emerging Entrepreneurs the previous Thursday.

In a group of finalists that as a whole seemed to gel and take great pride in their accomplishments, Andy was one of the truly bright lights. He will be missed greatly by many, including all of us at Spirit who had just gotten to know him.

We will keep Andy, his family, and his associates at Terralever in our thoughts.

Sincerely,

Gary Naumann
Director, Spirit of Enterprise Center

For more information about our programs please visit us at www.spiritofenterprise.org

The Spirit of Enterprise Center
W. P. Carey School of Business
P.O. Box 874006
Tempe, Arizona 85287-4006
Telephone: (480) 965-0474
Fax: (480) 727-6185
spiritofenterprise@asu.edu