Marina
On the evening of Thursday, October 16, 2025, at the Robert W. Plaster Center on the campus of Pittsburg State University, Kansas businesses and entrepreneurs were celebrated for their exceptional impact on local communities and the state economy.
The Kansas Department of Commerce held its annual To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards, honoring enterprises that have made outstanding contributions across Kansas.
Nearly 500 guests attended the gala, where two top honors were awarded: Grey Snow Management Solutions received the 2025 Governor’s Award of Excellence, and GeoProbe Systems was named the 2025 Governor’s Exporter of the Year.
Key Highlights from the Awards
Major Award Announcements
- Governor’s Award of Excellence (2025):
Awarded to Grey Snow Management Solutions, recognized for its leadership and alignment with Kansas’ economic and community goals.
As Governor Laura Kelly remarked: “Grey Snow and GeoProbe have dynamic missions … Companies like these advance our state’s exporting efforts, contribute significantly to their local economies, and are more than deserving of these awards.” - Governor’s Exporter of the Year (2025):
Bestowed upon GeoProbe Systems, a company pioneering advanced drilling technologies. Founded in 1987 by two engineers, GeoProbe introduced the first direct-push machines for environmental sampling and has since expanded globally across multiple drilling sectors.
This award, given annually for over three decades, spotlights Kansas firms that excel in international trade and serve as export role models.
Scope of the Awards & Selection Process
A record 431 nominations—covering businesses, organizations, and individuals—were submitted across 11 categories. Nominees were evaluated on a variety of factors, including:
- Business growth and expansion
- Employee recruitment, retention, and training
- Investment in capital
- Community engagement and local event support
From these, 372 Merit Awards and 59 Regional Awards were given. In each category, one finalist was elevated as a Statewide Winner, qualifying them for the Governor’s Award of Excellence.
Voices from Leadership
Lieutenant Governor (and Secretary of Commerce) David Toland emphasized the vital role of Kansas businesses, calling them “the backbone of the record-setting success our state has experienced over the last six years.”
Kansas Business Hall of Fame Inductees
During the ceremony, emcee Melissa Vincent introduced two inductees into the Kansas Business Hall of Fame, recognizing their profound contributions:
- Marci Penner (contemporary): A rural advocate and author from Inman, serving as executive director of the Kansas Sampler Foundation
- Emerson Carey, Sr. (historical): An entrepreneur and philanthropist from Hutchinson, noted for his salt manufacturing and industrial leadership
New Award Categories Introduced
The Commerce Department unveiled two additional honors:
- Small Business Champion – Corporate Partner Award
Recognizes corporations that demonstrate extraordinary dedication to supporting small businesses. - Mainstreet Momentum Award
Celebrates businesses actively revitalizing downtown districts and enhancing local commercial growth.
2025 Statewide Award Winners
Below is the list of 2025 Statewide Award winners across various categories:
| Category | Winner | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Agribusiness | Liquid Art Winery & Estate | Manhattan |
| Apprenticeship Champions & Partners | American Implement | Garden City |
| Business Innovation | Shed Lifestyles, LLC | Kansas City |
| Healthcare / Nonprofit | Special Olympics Kansas, Inc. | Mission |
| Mainstreet Momentum | Grand Central Hotel & Grill | Cottonwood Falls |
| Manufacturing / Distribution | LeDuc Memorial Designs | Concordia |
| Non-Traditional Talent Pools | AllMetal Recycling, LLC | Wichita |
| Retail / Service | Grey Snow Management Solutions | Cloud |
| Small Business Champion – Corporate Partner | Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center, Inc. | Norton |
| Under-30 Entrepreneur | Braiden Werth (Werth Eye Group, P.A.) | Hays |
| Welcome Back | Davey & Kim Froman (Miners and Monroe) | Pittsburg |
Grey Snow Management Solutions, beyond claiming the Governor’s Award, holds significance as a specialized economic development entity focused on tribal sovereignty and providing professional services to both government and commercial clients.
Their mission emphasizes sustainability, responsibility, and profitability for the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska and the broader Indian Country.
Why These Awards Matter
These awards serve multiple strategic purposes:
- They spotlight excellence across sectors, encouraging “best practices” among Kansas businesses.
- They foster export growth, bolstering Kansas’ presence in the global marketplace.
- They support community and downtown development, especially through new awards like Mainstreet Momentum.
- They inspire other businesses to invest in workforce, innovation, and local engagement.
- They build a narrative that Kansas is a high-potential business environment.
By elevating success stories, the state encourages an ecosystem where entrepreneurship, accountability, and community-centered growth thrive.
The 2025 To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards showcased how enterprises across the state—large and small, urban and rural—are driving economic growth, community improvement, and international trade.
Through rigorous evaluation and recognition across 11 categories, the Kansas Department of Commerce honored firms not only for their performance but also for their meaningful contributions to their communities and the state’s future.
With Grey Snow Management Solutions earning the Governor’s Award of Excellence and GeoProbe Systems taking home Exporter of the Year, Kansas highlighted models of leadership, innovation, and global reach.
The introduction of new award categories further underscores the state’s evolving commitment to downtown revitalization and small business partnerships. These accolades not only celebrate today’s achievements but also set a vision for Kansas’ next wave of economic success.