Economic Impact Award finalists announced

Recognition will be given in six categories: certified public accounting firms, engineering firms, commercial general contractors, Charitable Organization of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year and Innovator of the Year.

The 2008 Lifetime Achievement in Business Award will be presented to Jim D. Morris, the founder of Morris Oil Co. and a real estate and hotel developer.

Presented alphabetically in each category, the finalists are:

• CPA firms: BKD LLP; Kirkpatrick, Phillips & Miller PC; and Whitlock, Selim & Keehn LLP

• Engineering firms: Butler, Rosenbury & Partners Inc.; Geo Engineers Inc.; and Olsson Associates Inc.

• Commercial general contractors: Carson-Mitchell Inc.; DeWitt & Associates Inc.; and The Killian Group of Cos.

• Charitable Organization of the Year: Ozarks Area Community Action Corp.; Ozarks Food Harvest Inc.; and Springfield Victory Mission Inc.

• Entrepreneur of the Year: Shawn Askinosie of Askinosie Chocolate; Sheila Collins of Springfield Granite-Plus; and Paul Sundy of Big Whiskey’s, Parlor 88, Icon and Fedora

• Innovator of the Year: Springfield-Greene County Library District; Springfield-Greene County Park Board; and Springfield Regional Arts Council

Lifetime Achievement Award winner Morris founded Morris Oil Co. in 1958 with a $4,700 loan from Standard Oil and grew the company to 60 stores and more than 50 million gallons of fuel sold a year in the 1980s and 1990s. His other business ventures include real estate – he at one time owned five hotels in Springfield and Branson – and banking, where he helped found Signature Bank.

Event Details

The awards will be presented during a July 17 dinner and ceremony at Oasis Inn & Convention Center. A reception starts at 5:30 p.m. with the ceremony and dinner to follow at 6:45 p.m.

The keynote speaker is Springfield businessman Brian Fogle, vice president of community development for Great Southern Bank.

Tickets are available for $60 each or $500 for a table of 10. Tickets may be ordered at sbj.net, or by calling Circulation Director Diana Weber at (417) 831-3238.