The Center for Entrepreneurship in the Craig School at Missouri Western State University honored two local businessmen during the capstone luncheon of the third annual Entrepreneurship Week on March 23.
Scott Gann was named Entrepreneur of the Year. Gann opened Scott Gann Construction in 1986 and later bought his parents’ business, Gann Backhoe Service. He went on to found SDG Developments with his wife, Debby. Gann also manages his parents’ and his wife’s family farms. He has participated in the Helzberg Entrepreneur Mentoring Program, St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce and Midland Empire Home Builders Association, and he supports several nonprofit organizations in St. Joseph.
Scott Bratton was named Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year, presented to an entrepreneur who has been in business five years or less. Bratton worked as a welder in Afghanistan for two years to save up the money to open his welding and fabrication company, Advanced Fabworks LLC, in 2013. By 2015, he moved to a larger facility in Elwood, Kansas, and hired four employees. He plans to further expand this year and employ 11. He is involved with the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, the Doniphan County Chamber of Commerce and Cup of Joe.
For more information on the Center for Entrepreneurship, visit their website at csb-cfe.missouriwestern.edu or call 816-271-4283.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.