Introducing the 2019 Small Businesses of the Year

Affinity Automotive Services, Headshots Bar & Grill and McCurdy Auction are the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 Small Businesses of the Year. The Chamber made the announcement earlier today at a luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Wichita.

Award finalists were divided into three tiers based upon number of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. Affinity Automotive Services represents Tier One (businesses with 1-5 FTE), Headshots Bar & Grill represents Tier Two (businesses with 6-20 FTE), and McCurdy Auction represents Tier Three (businesses with 21-100 FTE). Judges evaluated the finalists based on five key areas: leadership and performance, employee relations, entrepreneurship, diversity and community involvement.

Summer and Mark Guerrero opened After Hours Auto Repair in 2008, with a focus on ethical transactions and offering the highest level of customer service. The company expanded in 2011 to a larger location and changed their name to Affinity Automotive Services in 2018. As a female-owned automotive repair company, all employees are trained to ensure female customers feel safe, respected and empowered when making decisions regarding auto repairs. Affinity Automotive Services currently has five full-time employees and is working towards opening a second location in the next few years.

When Headshots Bar & Grill Owner Ryan Revard ran out of money two weeks before opening his doors in 2013, he had to put all his food and drink inventory on a credit card. Since then, Headshots has grown to be the second largest independently owned video game bar in the country, seating up to 220 people at their location in Brittany Center. Their offerings have grown to include a full bar, extensive menu, bakery, coffee shop, 1,000 video games, 500 board games, 30 TVs, and more.

Now in its 37^th year, McCurdy Auction has grown from and husband-and-wife operation to one of the leading auction firms in the Midwest. Last year, their team conducted 700 auctions across the region – a 17% increase from 2017. McCurdy Auction now employs 26 people but continues to be a family owned and operated business that is committed to treating employees and customers like family.

The Presenting Sponsors of the 2019 Awards program were Allmetal Recycling and Occidental Management, both former Award recipients. Josh Oeding, President & CEO of e2e Accelerator, gave the keynote address to a crowd of 260 luncheon attendees.

Small businesses are responsible for creating two of every three new jobs in the U.S. and make up almost 90 percent of the Wichita Regional Chamber membership. The Small Business Awards program, now in its 15^th year, is designed not only to provide small businesses the recognition they deserve but to also give other small businesses a chance to learn from the best. New to the program this year was an additional tier, which was designed to be more reflective of the life cycle of our member businesses.

Videos highlighting each of the finalists have been posted to the Chamber’s YouTube channel, and photos from the event have been posted on our Facebook page. 

2019 Small Business Awards Finalists

Tier One (1 – 5 FTE)

Affinity Automotive Services

Keating & Associates: The Converse Team

Paint the Towne

Tier Two (6 – 20 FTE)

Headshots Bar & Grill

Medical Provider Resources

National Screening Bureau

 Tier Three (21 – 100 FTE)

Axiom Healthcare Services

Choose Networks

McCurdy Auction