Kentucky Celebrates Small Business May 8, 2019
The Kentucky Small Business Development Center is excited to announce the 2019 Pacesetter Award Winners.
The Pacesetter Business Recognition Program celebrates high performing small businesses that are producing innovative products, increasing sales, creating jobs, and investing in our communities. The Kentucky SBDC Pacesetter Awardees contribute to the health of the Kentucky economy and communities across the Commonwealth.
2019 New Startup Business Pacesetters
Fedders Construction , Newport KY
Fedders Construction is a design-build construction company focused on building trusting client relationships and quality finished projects. The company’s success was instant, along with the intent to invest in the community. Soon after opening, Fedders Construction needed more space. He chose to purchase the largest vacant, historic building in Newport, KY’s westside and engaged the community by seeking input on what they should do with the excess space to improve the neighborhood.
Paws Town, LLC , Owensboro, KY
Paws Town, LLC is a safe and fun place for your four-legged family members to stay and play. Services provided include boarding, daycare, and grooming. Opening in June of 2018, Paws Town experienced exceptional growth. The company has grown from 5 to 12 employees to keep pace with the demand for services. The business opened with a mission to give back to their community. On their grand opening day, they held a silent auction for a local animal rescue organization, and have continued this trend participating in national campaigns, and local silent auctions alike.
RediFlame , Paint Lick, KY
Tree of the Field is a rural, entrepreneurial agribusiness that makes every effort to use renewable resources, locally sourced materials, environmentally responsible practices, and responsible decisions. Tree of the Field believes in what they do and why they do it. In March of 2018, Tree of The Field acquired RediFlame, makers of the Skeeterlog®, and the assets and processing equipment were moved to Eastern Kentucky. A major setback occurred in late 2018 when their joint venture agreement came to an abrupt halt due to their partner losing the lease on the production facility. Rediflame was forced to relocate and rebuild production operations in Eastern Kentucky. Throughout this arduous process, Dr. Mason kept pressing forward and negotiating licensing and distribution deals with the likes of Tractor Supply, and Whole Foods, creating new product partnerships and expanding her e-commerce presence.
Dr. Mason believes that Rediflame is just beginning to explore their product line potential and she has several exciting developments nearly ready to launch onto the market.
Achievements Through Actions , LLC
Achievements Through Actions, LLC provides support to adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities in Pulaski County, Kentucky. As a certified “Supports for Community Living,” (SCL), the company takes pride in placing the individual’s needs first. They operate group homes and provide day habilitation services to developmentally disabled individuals. The Day Habilitation helps clients acquire and maintain life skills that enable them to cope more effectively with the demands of independent living. As soon as Achievements Through Actions opened, they had an overwhelming demand for their services, which has forced them to scale up very quickly. They now operate three group homes, have 10 Day Habilitation clients, and have hired 22 people. As of the end of February 2019, Achievements Through Actions has effectively doubled their original projections.
Nymbl Systems , Lexington, KY
Nymbl systems started in Lexington, KY when Josh Lau, a young IT professional met a local orthotics and prosthetics practitioner and found that no one software met his needs. After spending a couple of years understanding the industry practices, Lau created Nymbl Systems. Nymbl Systems is a fluid piece of software that changes with any new updates to the CMS, private pay, or other regulations that are introduced to the healthcare community. Nymbl’s innovative approach has the potential to transform the industry.
2019 Traditional Business Pacesetters
Running Soles , LLC, Elizabethtown, KY
Running Soles, LLC is a family and veteran-owned business. It is also the first natural/balanced running store in Kentucky, and the only specialty running store in Hardin County. Their mission is to encourage and enable everyone to achieve measurable fitness results while preserving health. The company has steadily grown in both sales and profits since its inception and was recently named Kentucky SBA Veteran Owned Small Business of the Year.
J-Mack BBQ , Gilbertsville, KY
J-Mack is a family-owned BBQ restaurant in Gilbertsville, KY. Kansas City BBQ Contest winners, Jay and Michelle Tapscott, opened the restaurant in 2015, and have grown the business consistently for the last four years. The Tapscott’s commitment to their business and their community earned them the title of Kentucky SBA Rural Small Business of the Year.
American Metal Works , LLC, Paintsville, KY
American Metal Works is an American-owned company committed to the Appalachian revival with over 75 years of business experience in manufacturing, coal, and natural gas industries. The 4,350 square foot Computer Numerical Control manufacturing facility provides services to the automotive, aerospace, medical device, and general manufacturing industries. American Metal Works is seen locally and nationally as a business leader in the post-coal world of Eastern Kentucky. In 2018 the Harvard Business Review published an article citing American Metal Works owners on how Eastern Kentucky is reshaping its economy. A researcher from the University of California, Berkeley is shadowing the team to learn how changes in the work environment affect employees and their families. For the last two years, American Metal Works has participated in the SOAR Summit and were the featured company for the 2018 conference. American Metal Works continues to look for opportunities for growth, collaborations, and innovation.
Freight House , Paducah, KY
Freight House is a farm-to-table style restaurant in Paducah Kentucky dedicated to providing the local community with delicious dinners, drinks, and desserts with locally sourced ingredients. You may recognize the head chef and owner Sara Bradley as a runner up on the television show Top Chef. Bradley’s passion for sustainable agriculture, community, and food have changed the way Paducah residents think about food.
Straight Cut Tree Services , Corbin, KY
Saving trees is Joey Hampton’s passion. As the owner of Straight Cut Tree services, he has made a name for himself through his attention to detail, knowledge of trees, and ability to devise the best solution to any tree problem. The company’s business model also reflects Hampton’s commitment to the environment and support of veterans. All of the wood products they sell are ‘forest free.’ By using only logs harvested from urban tree removal, Straight Cut Tree Services has created a sustainable enterprise that protects our forests. Straight Cut Tree Services is a veteran-owned business with a strong commitment to hiring veterans.