Apply for Spirit of Enterprise Awards to honor Arizona businesses

Despite the recession, many Arizona businesses are thriving, pushing forward to create new jobs and contribute to the state’s economic recovery. Some of the best businesses in the state will be honored with this year’s Spirit of Enterprise Awards from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. Companies are being encouraged to apply now for the 13th annual awards.

Past winners include such diverse companies as Cold Stone Creamery and Grand Canyon Railway. The awards recognize businesses that demonstrate ethics, energy and excellence in entrepreneurship. Businesses are noted for creating a positive culture both internally and in the community as a whole. Also, this year, a new category called the Gary Trujillo Minority Enterprise Award is being added.

About 1,000 Valley business and community leaders are expected to attend the annual awards luncheon when the winners are announced on Sept. 24 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix.

The award application deadline is July 9. Applicant businesses must:

1.)    Be a for-profit enterprise in business for at least four years,

2.)    Be incorporated, headquartered or have primary business operations in Arizona,

3.)    Have three or more full-time employees,

4.)    Demonstrate profitability over the last three years.

These awards are just one focus of the Spirit of Enterprise Center at the W. P. Carey School of Business, which helps hundreds of businesses each year. The center offers companies the chance to recruit and meet with top student talent, while students get hands-on business experience. Through the center, businesses can access short, non-degree programs for busy professionals and create connections to other Arizona StateUniversity resources. Teams of W. P. Carey School of Business students also conduct research to help Valley companies. The center is self-funded and utilizes community sponsorships and volunteers.

For more information on the center or an awards application, go to www.spiritofenterprise.org. For sponsorship opportunities or awards luncheon reservations, please contact Gary Naumann at (480) 965-0474 or SpiritofEnterprise@asu.edu.