The nominations are in and the Small Business of the Year 2001 Awards have been presented. The Small Business of the Year Awards spotlight entrepreneurship and recognize hard work and innovation. This year’s awards ceremony was held at a Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Combined Area Council luncheon on Oct. 30. In addition to the Fort Worth Chamber and TCU’s James A. Ryffel Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, the 2001 awards were sponsored by Citizens National Bank, KBK Financial, KRLD News Radio, Fort Worth Business Press, Higginbotham & Associates and Southwestern Bell. This year, the award categories were based on revenue rather than on number of employees as in the past. Also this year, TCU students worked through the James A. Ryffel Center for Entrepreneurial Studies to help evaluate the nominees.
The Small Business of the Year Award for companies with annual revenue of up to $250,000 was Tyson’s Auto Detail, a mobile auto detailing service. Founded in 1998 by Tyson Wallace, Tyson’s Auto Detail found a niche in the automotive service market – bringing the service to the vehicle rather than vice versa. Among the special services offered by Tyson’s are front door service at home or office, free pick up and delivery, rain check program, multi-car discounts, customer satisfaction inspection and service by appointment seven days a week.
A computer network integration company was recognized in the $250,000-$1,000,000 revenue category. TriQuest Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1997 by Gary Tonniges, Jr., president of the company. Adversity has played a major role in the company’s success, according to Tonniges. The March 2000 tornado destroyed all of the company’s physical assets, but he says, "It forced us to reevaluate how badly we wanted to survive. We are a much stronger company as a result." TriQuest has also targeted a narrow segment of the market and therefore is able to deliver superior service says Tonniges.
Preferred Machine Tools is the 2001 winner in the $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 category. Founded in 1996, Preferred Machine Tools sells used machine tools and gauges. President Judith (Judy) Griggs noted that the company has overcome significant difficulties including stock market crashes, floods and illness to become successful. Among the company’s successful strategies are the elimination of "stale" inventory by offering a rent to own program, acceptance of credit cards and ensuring that all used inventory is in good running order.
Founded in 1988, Santé Rehabilitation Group is the winner of the Small Business of the Year Award in the $5,000,000 to $20,000,000 category. According to Louis Church, president and CEO, streamlining the operation and updating the office technology helped the company over cash flow problems in 1996. Today, Santé shows profits of 10-15 percent range. The company’s strategy for success includes its multiple locations, central intake system and extended hours. These have resulted in a 95 percent satisfaction rate among its patients.
A special award will be presented to Reata Restaurant Management Corporation-Fort Worth Division. The "Spirit of Perseverance" Award recognizes all the obstacles that Reata Restaurant had to overcome in the wake of the March 2000 tornado. That twister did nearly $1,000,000 worth of damage to the restaurant atop the Bank One Building. With the support of customers, employees and vendors, the restaurant was repaired and reopened in six weeks. However, this past February, it was announced that the restaurant would have to close, as Bank One was to be demolished. Less than a month after closing, Reata on the Road was created to offer private catering, cooking schools and event production.
It was recently announced that Reata will reopen in the spring of 2002 in the old Caravan of Dreams site in Sundance Square. The lower level, ground level and rooftop will again offer Reata signature dishes. And, Reata on the Road will continue its catering and event business as well.