Entrepreneur Excellence Award

 The Fort Worth Business Press Entrepreneur Excellence Award recognizes the true spirit of an American entrepreneur. This award rewards the success of a Tarrant County small business owner who started a business and is currently operating the same company within the county.
Winner
 

     Trilogy Payment Solutions is a nationwide provider of electronic payment processing located in Fort Worth. Trilogy enables businesses to grow sales by accepting a broader range of payment types and by helping to determine the best electronic processing solution for their needs. Trilogy targets small-to mid-sized businesses - retail, home-based, e-commerce, telephone/catalog sales or mobile merchants - any company that needs to accept credit card payments.
     Owner Bryant Dowden started the business in his bedroom in 2004 with a business plan and a couple of investors. The company has experienced incredible growth since then, injecting millions in revenue into Tarrant County’s economy.
     Bryant and Trilogy have been active with the Business Assistance Center for years, providing classroom instruction to Project New students. 


Finalists 

Susan Neal,
A-Custom Foundation Repair, LLC
 

  

     A-Custom Foundation Repair founder Susan Neal opened the company in 2005 when she saw inconsistencies in the foundation repair industry. A-Custom’s philosophy is based on the idea that a homeowner needs to be informed on ways to protect the family’s most important investment.
     Susan believes that being successful in the construction business sets an example for her daughters that they can be successful in any profession - all it takes is honesty, integrity and perseverance.
     She credits her participation in "Step 1 - How to Start a Business" at the Business Assistance Center, followed up with business and personal coaching, with helping tremendously in the start-up and growth of her company. 

Linda Le,
LLE Design Solutions 

  

     
     Linda Le left her full-time job at a marketing firm and started her own creative marketing design agency that specializes in the custom graphic design and web design services in November 2006. Linda says, "I knew the first time I picked up a purple crayon, when I was 2 years of age, that art was going to play a huge role in my life." She also recognizes, "I can’t do this alone. I have to surround myself with the right people who will help me become successful." She has attended business workshops and tradeshows to meet businesses and potential clients, as well as assembling a team of life and business coaches, a financial advisor, CPA and attorney to stay on top of the business. "I have learned that in order to grow my business, I cannot manage everything. I have to delegate."
     Linda has introduced new "packaging services" concepts to obtain more business and has developed a new program that will allow companies to pick and choose projects for the year. This program offers a monthly payment plan, allowing clients to know exactly how much they are spending, rather than having to pay after each project is launched. 


Tonya Veasey,
Open Channels Group, LLC 

  

    

     Open Channels Group (OCG), LLC is a public affairs firm located in downtown Fort Worth that provides professional services to public and private entities. Since its inception in 2005, OCG grew from two clients in 2006 to more than 10 in 2008. Staff has increased from one to six full-time employees and profit has increased 98%, 64% and 46% respectively over the past three years.
     Principal Tonya Veasey is a graduate of the Business Assistance Center’s 10-week Project New entrepreneurship institute, which she credits for being instrumental in helping her launch her business.
     Tonya believes that you must reinvest some of what you earn into the community - "not just a financial investment, but using your time to make a difference." 

Tony Formby,
Rahr & Sons Brewing, LP 
  

     
     

     Rahr & Sons Brewing brews and packages some of the finest craft beers in America. Several of its beers have won major national and international awards, including National Grand Champion 2009 United States Beer Tasting Championships and a Bronze Medal at the 2008 World Beer Cup.
     The Rahr family has been making beer for generations. Fritz Rahr’s great, great grandfather came to America from the German Rhineland in 1847 and within the year, established the Eagle "Rahr" Brewery and Malt House on the banks of Lake Michigan. In 2004 Fritz Rahr and partners followed suit, building the current brewery on South Main Street in Fort Worth.
     In 2006, Rarh put its limited financial resources into representing the Rarh brand to grocery stores, bars and restaurants to create local demand. This inluded brewing award winning beers and hsoting Saturday Tour and Tasting events. 

 

The winner will receive an award package valued at more than $12,000.00!

  • Fort Worth Business Press advertising package, which will include a combination of:
    • Newspaper print advertising
    • Web-based advertising
    • E-newsletters
    • Production of all graphic materials needed
  • An award presented at the Entrepreneur Expo 2009
  • A professional headshot
  • Featured coverage in post-Expo media releases
  • A plaque at the Fort Worth Business Assistance Center