Number ones honored by One Southern Indiana

Annual business awards reward hard work at luncheon in New Albany

By DANIEL SUDDEATH with News & Tribune

Daniel.Suddeath@newsandtribune.com

From starting Together for Breast Cancer Survival to his tenure in banking services, local businessman Doug Drake has worn many hats.

Now he has a new title to add to the resume: One Southern Indiana Professional of the Year.

Drake, executive director for Personal Counseling Service Inc., was one of five award recipients honored Thursday at the Southern Indiana Business Awards luncheon, which was held at Northside Christian Church in New Albany.

Drake bested area business leaders Vaughan Scott, of Smith Barney at Your Community Bank, as well as Carol Dawson, CEO of EEO Guidance Inc. and columnist for The Evening News and The Tribune, for the award.

“It takes teamwork and it takes a community — it’s not just me,” Drake said of receiving the award.

The Business of the Year award for less than 25 employees was given to Audiacom Inc., and received by owner Michael Becht. He became sole owner in 1997, and the company has experienced revenue growth and job expansion each year since.

Audiacom provides multimedia and marketing services, including video production and interactive media, for companies around the nation.

Becht thanked his wife and his employees for their diligent work and support in growing the business over the past 11 years.

“We all know that businesses can be great, but they can be difficult,” he said.

Other finalists for the award were Callistus Smith Agency Inc. and Carpet Corner Inc.

The Business of the Year award for more than 25 employees went to The Estopinal Group LLC, a Jeffersonville-based engineering and architecture firm owned by Wayne Estopinal. The company has made its mark designing in the health care and educational fields, with more than 90 percent of their client base coming from those arenas.

Estopinal was unable to be at the luncheon, as he was away on business in the company’s Louisiana office.

A representative from the business said though they have worked around the nation, designs closer to home are the ones that bring them the most satisfaction.

“If Wayne were here today, he would tell you the projects in Southern Indiana have been some of the most rewarding,” said Kyle Wilson, senior associate of architecture for Estopinal Group.

The company has three offices with a combined staff of 70. In June, it will open a fourth office in Louisville. The firm topped OB/GYN Associates of Southern Indiana and Your Community Bank for the honor.

The Rising Star award was given to the New Albany-based Precision Compounding Pharmacy. The pharmacy — housed in the Kelley Building along State Street — has found a niche by making traditional medicines easier to digest for patients by changing the dosage forms, with a physician’s consent.

The pharmacy has been in business for 18 months, with owners Denise Orwick and Laura Pfaffenberger compounding medicines to help patients that might suffer from allergic reactions or have trouble with the prescribed dosage.

“We’re very proud of our lab and proud of our quality assurance program,” Pfaffenberger said.

Also in consideration for the Rising Star award were Tow Zone Trailer & Equipment Sales Inc. and Sign Makers Etc. LLC.

Eagle Steel Products Inc., based in Jeffersonville since 1983, won the Economic Impact award. That company was chosen over Hitachi Cable Indiana Inc.

“Without our employees, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” Eagle Steel Chief Executive Officer Shirley Ohta said. “At Eagle, we like to think we are a family.”

Eagle Steel is undergoing an 87,000-square-foot expansion to its facility in Jeffersonville. It also operates a 110,000-square-foot warehouse in Louisville.

The company employs about 150 workers.

“The best decision we made was to move to Southern Indiana,” Ohta said.

Six independent judges determined finalists from a pool of nominees in each category and then selected winners based on business history, community involvement and response to adversity among other criteria.

Michael Dalby, president and CEO for One Southern Indiana, said business is definitely blooming in the region and for the organization, with 416 members added to One Southern Indiana since Jan. 7.

Tonya Fischer, vice president of operations for One Southern Indiana, said organization members have helped the organization thrive.

“Our members have shown that Southern Indiana is an excellent place to do business,” she said in a news release. “As the area’s premiere business association, we are energized by the companies and people that make this such a great place to work.”

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