Salute to Small Business
Forcht Bank's Lexington Market President, Houston Hall (left), presented BACK Construction's Kyle Whalen and Rob Hundley with the Business Success Award. BACK Construction was named the 2018 Small Business of the Year at the Sept. 7th awards luncheon.
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BACK Construction Named Commerce Lexington Inc.'s 2018 Small Business of the Year
At the Commerce Lexington Inc. Salute to Small Business Awards Luncheon on Sept. 7th presented by Forcht Bank, BACK Construction was named the 2018 Small Business of the Year. The recipient of this year’s Business Success Category Award, BACK Construction was chosen for the honor from five different category winners. The company now has the opportunity to be considered for state and national recognition through the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Formed in 1981 by partners Billy Knight, Alvin Edge, Chuck Ross and Kyle Whalen, BACK Construction provides home remodeling and repairs in the Lexington/Central Kentucky area. When it began, the business was focused primarily on residential framing and building horse barns. By 1994, with only two original partners left, the company started to focus on remodeling. In 2003, Whalen purchased the rights to the company from the last original partner, and then longtime employee, Rob Hundley, also became a principal owner in the business.
Today, BACK Construction has four divisions, including Design/Build, Handyman, Roofing, and Windows & Doors, and a workforce of 51 professionals available to serve clients. In six of the last eight years, BACK has enjoyed double-digit growth, and last year, it was recognized among the top 50 remodelers at #31 by Remodeling Magazine.
Commerce Lexington Inc. began its small business awards program in 1986, recognizing 97 outstanding small businesses and nonprofit organizations since its inception. In 2010, the awards program was expanded to include eight different award categories, to enable many more local small businesses to be recognized. This year’s award winners together have 112 years of service to our community.
At the Commerce Lexington Inc. Salute to Small Business Awards Luncheon on Sept. 7th presented by Forcht Bank, BACK Construction was named the 2018 Small Business of the Year. The recipient of this year’s Business Success Category Award, BACK Construction was chosen for the honor from five different category winners. The company now has the opportunity to be considered for state and national recognition through the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Formed in 1981 by partners Billy Knight, Alvin Edge, Chuck Ross and Kyle Whalen, BACK Construction provides home remodeling and repairs in the Lexington/Central Kentucky area. When it began, the business was focused primarily on residential framing and building horse barns. By 1994, with only two original partners left, the company started to focus on remodeling. In 2003, Whalen purchased the rights to the company from the last original partner, and then longtime employee, Rob Hundley, also became a principal owner in the business.
Today, BACK Construction has four divisions, including Design/Build, Handyman, Roofing, and Windows & Doors, and a workforce of 51 professionals available to serve clients. In six of the last eight years, BACK has enjoyed double-digit growth, and last year, it was recognized among the top 50 remodelers at #31 by Remodeling Magazine.
Commerce Lexington Inc. began its small business awards program in 1986, recognizing 97 outstanding small businesses and nonprofit organizations since its inception. In 2010, the awards program was expanded to include eight different award categories, to enable many more local small businesses to be recognized. This year’s award winners together have 112 years of service to our community.
2018 Salute to Small Business Category Winners:
Business Success Award:
BACK Construction Co. Kyle Whalen, President 965 Contract Street, Lexington, 40505 Phone: (859) 225-2225 Web: www.BACKconstruction.com Formed in 1981 by partners Billy Knight, Alvin Edge, Chuck Ross and Kyle Whalen, BACK Construction provides home remodeling and repairs in the Lexington/Central Kentucky area. When it began, the business was focused primarily on residential framing and building horse barns. In its first 12 years, BACK Construction built over 100 homes ranging in size from starter homes to large custom homes. By 1994, with only two original partners left, the company started to focus on remodeling. In 2003, Whalen purchased the rights to the company from the last original partner. Longtime employee, Rob Hundley became a principal owner in the business. In its 37 years in business, BACK Construction has survived several economic downturns, the onslaught of additional competition, and the challenges of a labor shortage in the industry. In six of the last eight years, BACK has enjoyed double-digit growth, and last year was recognized in the top 50 at #31 by Remodeling Magazine. Today, BACK Construction is considered the premier remodeler in Central Kentucky. 
Legacy Award:
Avant Travel Agency, Inc. Co-Owners Sharon Betts, Melonie Graves, and Darlene Silvestri 111 Woodland Ave., Suite 110, Lexington, 40502 Phone: (859) 233-0000 Web: www.avanttravel.com Founded in 1987, Avant Travel Agency, Inc. has been providing comprehensive travel services to both corporate and leisure travelers for more than 30 years. Started by Sharon Betts, Melonie Graves, Connie Hyde, and Darlene Silvestri, Avant began as a small, yet full-service travel agency, focusing on the needs of corporate and business travelers. Today, Avant is the only locally-owned, continuously operating travel agency in the Lexington market and serves customers from two brick-and-mortar office locations in Lexington. Over the years, the agency has adapted to changes in the industry and is now recognized as a leading resource for the planning of high-end luxury and adventure travel. Avant’s staff is comprised of seasoned travel professionals who know the business inside and out, utilizing a team approach that capitalizes on its collective resources and extensive travel experiences. |
Green Initiative Award:
GreenBox Heating & Air, Plumbing, Remodeling Gwen Riley, President & Founder 1060 W. High St., Suite 120, Lexington, 40508 Phone: (859) 278-0281 Web: www.greenboxair.com GreenBox Heating & Air was founded in 2010 by Gwen Riley. After being in the industry for eight years, Gwen felt called to serve the HVAC industry differently. She wanted to offer great service at a fair price. In particular, she wanted women to feel they had someone they could trust for home solution needs. She wanted to create a company that offered peace of mind for all home owners when it came to home repairs. Specializing in heating, cooling, air quality, plumbing, and remodeling, GreenBox simplifies new system installation, retrofit projects, seasonal maintenance, and repair. GreenBox began with just two technicians, but today averages 60 employees and has acquired four additional HVAC companies. The business offers upfront pricing for customers and always guarantees its work. GreenBox recently expanded into a 38,000-square foot historic building in Lexington that has been transformed into a state-of-the-art facility with energy efficient upgrades, locally sourced natural materials, and advanced automation technology. 
Minority Business Award:
Posh Salon & Spa Amael Shalash, Owner 2573 Richmond Rd., Ste. 240, Lexington, 40509 Phone: (859) 269-7674 Web: www.PoshSalonandSpa.com Established in 2002, Posh Salon and Spa is the largest operating salon and day spa in the state of Kentucky. As a Redken Elite Salon, the staff at Posh is educated and trained by national Redken artists. Its team now has five Redken color certified artists and three Redken design certified artists. Posh offers services from head-to-toe, including pedicures, manicures, full body waxing, massages, hair color and styling, and much more. After 22 years of experience in the medical field, Dr. Amael Shalash purchased Posh Salon and Spa about five years ago, and since then, the business has experienced strong growth both in its workforce and annual revenue. In early 2016, Posh completed a full salon makeover and upgrade to create a more modern look and feel. Today, the salon offers 25 full running stations, five manicure stations, five pedicure stations, three massage rooms, four facial/waxing rooms, and a microblading room. |
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Nonprofit Award:
Kentucky Refugee Ministries - Lexington Mary Cobb, Lexington Office Director 1710 Alexandria Dr., Suite 2, Lexington, 40504 Phone: (859) 226-5661 Web: www.kyrm.org Kentucky Refugee Ministries - Lexington (KRM) is dedicated to providing resettlement services to refugees through faith-based and agency-based co-sponsorship in order to promote self-sufficiency and successful integration into the community. KRM has been operational in Lexington since 1998, and in the last five years has resettled more than 1,800 refugees in the area, including nationalities such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bhutan, Iraq, Syria, Cuba, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Rwanda. Comprehensive services to refugees include ESL and cultural orientation, employment, family and youth support, health and wellness, immigration and naturalization, and language interpretation and translation. KRM’s local success is due in large part to community involvement and support, and measured by the many refugees who have become self-sufficient. |
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PRESENTED BY:
Forcht Bank
PLATINUM SPONSOR:
Community Trust Bank
A TOAST TO THE WINNERS HOST:
Barney Miller's Inc.
GOLD SPONSORS:
Central Bank & Trust Co.
H-L Media (Lexington Herald-Leader/Kentucky.com)
Kentucky Utilities Co.
Kinetic Business by Windstream
SILVER SPONSORS:
Bluegrass Community & Technical College
Cumberland Valley National Bank
Kentucky Employers' Mutual Insurance
LM Communications Broadcast Media Group
MCM CPAs & Advisors
Republic Bank & Trust Company
TravelHost of the Bluegrass
WUKY 91.3 FM
SMALL BUSINESS SPONSORS:
Hurst Office Suppliers, Inc.
Precision Duplicating Solutions
INVITATION, PROGRAM & SIGNAGE SPONSOR
Stablemate Creative LLC
PRINT SPONSOR:
LYNN Imaging/Monster Color
VIDEO SPONSOR:
Wrigley Media Group
Forcht Bank
PLATINUM SPONSOR:
Community Trust Bank
A TOAST TO THE WINNERS HOST:
Barney Miller's Inc.
GOLD SPONSORS:
Central Bank & Trust Co.
H-L Media (Lexington Herald-Leader/Kentucky.com)
Kentucky Utilities Co.
Kinetic Business by Windstream
SILVER SPONSORS:
Bluegrass Community & Technical College
Cumberland Valley National Bank
Kentucky Employers' Mutual Insurance
LM Communications Broadcast Media Group
MCM CPAs & Advisors
Republic Bank & Trust Company
TravelHost of the Bluegrass
WUKY 91.3 FM
SMALL BUSINESS SPONSORS:
Hurst Office Suppliers, Inc.
Precision Duplicating Solutions
INVITATION, PROGRAM & SIGNAGE SPONSOR
Stablemate Creative LLC
PRINT SPONSOR:
LYNN Imaging/Monster Color
VIDEO SPONSOR:
Wrigley Media Group
