November 9, 2007

Chamber, KABA Present 2007 Awards

By Denise Lockwood
Kenosha News

They dreamed. They surrounded themselves with others that shared their vision. They took a risk, started a business and made an impact on their community.

Entrepreneurs from Kenosha County gathered to honor their fellow business owners at the third annual business awards dinner presented by the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce and the Kenosha Area Business Alliance on Thursday night.

Carl Schultz and Fran Prestay, owners of Five Star Race Car Bodies, found their passion in the race car industry, one aerodynamic lap at a time. They earned the 2007 Business of the Year because they demonstrated entrepreneurial innovation and economic development. The pair have been designing, manufacturing and distributing body panels, windows and accessories for the motorsport industry, including the NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series, since the late 1970s.

"For us, this is a big deal.... a really big deal," Schultz said. "For us, it's almost like getting an academy award."

Their business began after Prestay, who owned an auto service shop, had a hard night at the race track with his 1979 Camaro and headed to Schultz's local plumbing and heating business to produce a new set of sheet metal fenders for his car. The fenders were a hit and afterward they garnered support from the industry.

Now the company employs 105 people and is going through a building expansion in Twin Lakes and the rest, they say is racing history. The pair said they couldn't have been successful without KABA, each other or their employees.

David Trotta Barnes, chairman of the board, Bank of Kenosha, found his passion for business as a lawyer, but he also discovered it in real estate, banking, Bristol Oaks Country Club and one bottle of Pinot Noir at time, one that just happens to have the Sturino Trotta name on the label.

"I always had a plan, but most of the time they were never formal, sometimes I wrote these plans on a napkin," Trotta Barnes said.

Trotta Barnes said his wife Franchesca always encouraged him to try new endeavors.

"She just always encouraged me to do whatever I wanted to do," Trotta Barnes said.

J. Thomas Duncan III, vice president of United Hospital System, garnered the Community Service Award, because he had already found his passion in serving others and wanted to share that passion with others.

Duncan serves on numerous boards including the Hospice Alliance, United Way of Kenosha County, Kenosha Educa tion Foundation, Boys and Girls Club of Kenosha and several others.

"I guess I learned from people, especially Ray Johnson, a scout leader I had, who taught me about scout law. It has always stuck with me that you should always be helpful to the community and willing to serve without pay or reward," Duncan said. "He also taught me to commit to what you set out to do."

Mary Smith, president of the Kenosha Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, was the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award.

Economic Impact Awards went to:

• Guy Bradshaw, chairman and CEO of Bradshaw Medical
• Debbie Davidson, vice president of Workforce and Economic Development, for Gateway Technical College Horizon Center
• Mike Worcester, president of Insty-Prints of Kenosha, Inc.
• Raj Desai, vice president of Technical Services and New Development for Monarch Plastics
• Bobby Rajendran, vice president of Finance for Supervalu