NEWS RELEASE

March 23, 2007

Contact: Ryan Entz, 268-1152

The Chamber’s Top 10 small businesses combine for more than 600 employees in Wichita area

Wichita, KS - The Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce revealed the Top 10 Small Businesses of the Year at the 2007 Small Business Awards Showcase, Thursday at the Beech Activity Center. These ten businesses now compete for the Small Business of the Year to be awarded in May.

The Small Business Awards program is presented by iSi Integrated Solutions Inc., the 2006 Small Business of the Year.

The 2007 honorees demonstrate a tremendous commitment to the Wichita metro area. Combined, these companies represent 473 years in business, ranging from 18 years to 121, and average more than 60 full-time equivalent employees (FTE) for a total of 620, with 90 employees representing the largest business and 17 the smallest. Most impressive, these 10 businesses support, on average, more than 20 local nonprofits each.

The 2007 Top 10 Small Businesses:

• Aerospace Systems and Components, Inc.
• Equity Bank, N.A.                       
• Great Plains Communications
• Law/Kingdon Inc.
• Legacy Bank
• Restoration Farms, Inc. (DBA) Wild West World, LLC and Prairie Rose Chuckwagon Supper
• Spurrier Chemical Companies, Inc.
• The Law Company, Inc
• The Print Source
• WDM Architects

Judges rated the companies based on growth, financial strength, employee relations, community service and company history. Eligible companies had to be for-profit, headquartered in the Wichita metro area, employ no more than 100 FTE employees and be in business a minimum of three years. The panel will select the top small business based on a site visit, events participation and community involvement.

The Top 10 will be honored at two more Chamber events culminating with the naming of one Small Business of the Year in May. These events are the 2007 Small Business Awards Sunrise Scrambler from 7:30 -9 a.m., April 19, at the Broadview Hotel, 400 W. Douglas and the Small Business of the Year will be named at the 2007 Small Business Awards Luncheon, 11:30- 1 p.m., May 22 at the Hyatt Regency Wichita, 400 W. Waterman.

For more information, visit www.wichitachamber.org and follow the “Small Business Awards” link under “Top Headlines,” or contact Kristy Vogel at (316) 268-1117 or e-mail kvogel@wichitachamber.org.

###

Venture Boldly. Such a core belief is what makes the Chamber so pivotal in helping businesses achieve their full potential as we set bold and ambitious platforms in our never-ending pursuit to make our members successful.