Springfield Business Journal held its Economic Impact Awards ceremony Thursday at the Ramada Oasis Convention Center, recognizing Sam Hamra with the event's highest honor and celebrating Dianne Elizabeth Osis' 30 years of publishing SBJ.
About 300 business people and their family members were present at the 11th annual event.
SBJ presented awards in four categories: Lifetime Achievement in Business, Business Advocate of the Year, Philanthropic Business of the Year and the Decade Awards.
Sam Hamra, attorney and chairman/CEO of Hamra Enterprises - which employs 3,000 people and owns 75 Wendy's restaurants and 47 Panera Bread cafés - received the Lifetime Achievement award.
"People don't work for me, they work with me," Hamra said in his acceptance speech, before crediting his Lebanese father, who moved to Missouri in 1913, and Wendy's founder Dave Thomas for helping to shape his life. "I can name many people who have helped me through life – it would take all night to do that – people who have let me stand on their shoulders and raised me up, and I'm grateful to them."
The Business Advocate of the Year award was given to Rusty Worley, Urban Districts Alliance executive director, for his work in strengthening center city.
ServiceWorld Computer Center LLC, which lends refurbished computers, volunteer man hours and financial support to local schools and organizations, was honored as the Philanthropic Business of the Year. Kraft Foods Inc. and Kum & Go LC also were praised for their philanthropic efforts.
The Decade Awards were broken down into four categories: pre-1980s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.
pre-1980s
- Winner: Empire Bank
- Finalist: Commerce Bank
- Finalist: Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co.
1980s
- Winner: Penmac Personnel Services Inc.
- Finalist: Central Trust and Investment Co.
- Finalist: Protel Systems & Supplies Inc.
1990s
- Winner: Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP
- Finalist: Liberty Bank
- Finalist: Trust Company of the Ozarks
2000s
- Winner: Jordan Valley Community Health Center
- Finalist: DermaHealth Laser & Skin Care Clinic
- Finalist: Duck Creek Technologies Inc.
After an evening of celebrating the accomplishments of local businesses, Springfield Business Journal founder and publisher Osis was honored for her 30 years of work with the weekly business journal. She published the first issue July 22, 1980.
"You have built the strength and the wealth of our region," Osis told the crowd. "Indeed, the Springfield Business Journal would not exist without your achievements first."
Following a video honoring her service, SBJ staff members joined her on stage for a toast.
Read more on the 2010 EIA's in a special section of SBJ's 30th anniversary issue to be released July 26.
Photos from the event can be found here.[[In-content Ad]]
