Entrepreneurship was the theme of a recent awards ceremony, which focused on startup companies and one community leader from across the Tri-Cities.
The Rotary Club of Richland’s Entrepreneur Awards Program was announced by AM Sastry, Richland Rotarian and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory employee, to the club about recognizing the achievements of entrepreneurs in the bi-county region. It was established in 1996 in response to an inquiry.
The Port of Benton, Tri-City Development Council, Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce and Fuse SPC co-sponsored this year’s Nov. 19 event. Each named one of the four Entrepreneur of the Year Award winners, and the winner of the Sam Volpentest Entrepreneurial Leadership Award (“Sammy”) was also announced.
The award’s namesake, known as Mr. Tri-Cities, has supported economic development in the region for 48 years and co-founded TIDEC.
This award recognizes businesses within the Bicounty region that have been in business for at least one year but less than seven years and have fewer than 15 employees, although exceptions exist.
Sammy recipients must be entrepreneurs or leaders in the Tri-Cities community who have contributed to entrepreneurship through job creation, business mentorship, and fostering entrepreneurship through investment, programs, and services .
sammy winner
This year’s Sammy Award recipient is Marty Conger, managing partner of Hughes Advisors LLC, a Battelle and U.S. Department of Energy laboratory consulting and business support subsidiary of Hughes SPC in Richland.
Mr. Conger spent 42 years at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in various positions, including 12 years as chief financial officer. He was named the 2011 CFO of the Year for Large Nonprofit Organizations by the Puget Sound Business Journal.
Mr. Conger also managed the financial aspects of several bids and transitions for Battelle. He remains a longtime member of the Battelle Pension Management Investment Committee, with fiduciary responsibility for over $5 billion in retirement assets. After leaving the company, Conger joined the board of directors at Hughes, a company that provides co-working spaces and educational programs for businesses, and the Hughes Foundation was born in 2019.
The fund, led by Conger, helps promising Tri-Cities startups secure funding.
Mr. Conger has also spent time in the community as a board member for the Regional Chamber, United Way of Benton-Franklin County and Columbia Basin Dive Rescue.
He initially attended Washington State University and graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting. After that, he passed the certified public accountant exam.
Middleton Farms won the 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year Award. This business was recommended by the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce.
| Provided by: Benton Portmiddleton farms
Led by owners Keith and Laura Middleton, Middleton Farms combines agriculture and entertainment. The Fall Festival was first held in 2013 as part of a dream to create a family-friendly event where everyone could experience life on a farm.
Today, the farm hosts a variety of attractions throughout the year, including an asparagus fest, slides, and a ropes course. At the ceremony, the Middletons announced plans to add a tulip festival to the farm.
Middleton Farms was nominated by the local council. “Their commitment to community involvement and agricultural education is outstanding,” according to the award nomination. “Events like the Asparagus Festival celebrate the region’s agricultural heritage while creating lasting memories for families.”
The Chamber also noted Middleton Farms’ commitment to sustainability, local partnerships and innovation.
Innov8.ag won the 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year Award. This project was appointed by Mr. Fuse.
| Provided by: Benton PortInnov8.ag
Walla Walla-based agricultural technology company Innov8.ag was founded in 2019 by Steve Mantle. The company is affiliated with Microsoft, where Mantle worked for 12 years.
Mr. Hughes named the company, which has priority orchards north of Pasco, for its innovative contributions to agricultural technology. There, we developed above- and below-ground imaging techniques to provide data that growers can use to improve yields and optimize resources. Most of the company’s customers are located in southeastern Washington, with many in Benton and Franklin counties.
Innov8.ag has worked on a variety of crops, from blueberry research and partnerships with the Washington Tree Survey Commission on apples to partnerships with the Columbia Conservancy in growing wheat and McCain Foods in the potato industry.
Craftsman Cabinets & Flooring is a 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year. This operator was appointed by Tridec.
| Provided by: Benton Portcraftsman cabinets and flooring
TIDEC has nominated Craftman Cabinet & Flooring for the Entrepreneur of the Year award. The company has been around since its founding in 1972, but recently assumed new ownership in May 2023 from David Chavey Raynaud and Tori Chavey.
The company provides cabinets, countertops and flooring for residential and commercial customers. We have an in-house manufacturing facility and custom-make each product.
Craftsman Cabinets & Flooring is based in Richland and serves customers throughout the Inland Northwest.
The new owners of the business are combining respect for the company’s 50-year heritage with a fresh vision. In their nomination, TRIDEC said they will maintain the company’s values of quality, integrity and service excellence while pursuing innovation and growth.
JR Imaging Logistics has won the 2024 Entrepreneurial Awards. This project was appointed by the Port of Benton.
| Provided by: Benton PortJR Imaging Logistics
JR Imaging Logistics, appointed by the Port of Benton, provides hangar rental and aerial surveying services in Richland. It became a tenant of the port in 2023, serving businesses, private aircraft, pilots, owners and passengers.
Ryan Reiser founded the business in 2018 to provide hangar services to pilots and aircraft at Richland Airport.
JR Imaging Logistics provides tug service and the hangar is fully heated and equipped with many amenities including a pilot snooze room, passenger lounge, business center, refreshments and more.
We also provide aerial imagery services to the farming community. The service launched in 2019 with a growing pilot base across the United States. It currently operates in six states.
