2025 Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards: Celebrating Bold Innovators in the Inland Empire
A Night of Inspiration and Innovation
More than 800 entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and community members gathered in Riverside on November 18, 2025 for the 23rd annual Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards gala. This black-tie event, themed “Bold by Design,” honored the Inland Empire’s top business innovators who create opportunity with vision and purpose. Event founder Mike Stull noted that entrepreneurship is about “vision, purpose, and community,” a spirit perfectly captured by this year’s theme. The sold-out crowd enjoyed an evening of celebration and entertainment, reaffirming the gala’s status as the region’s premier business event.
Honoring the 2025 Award Winners and Honorees
After a competitive process whittling over 300 nominees to 29 finalists across seven categories, the Spirit Awards announced the 2025 winners. Each award recipient exemplifies excellence in their field, pushing boundaries and lifting their communities. This year’s honorees include:
- Design, Engineering & Construction Entrepreneur: Brett Brennan, Urban Habitat (Palm Desert) – Also named the “Best of the Best” overall award winner for 2025.
- Manufacturing Entrepreneur: Kathy L. Bodor, Plastics Plus Technology (Redlands) – Also honored with the Mary Anne Fox Top Female Entrepreneur award for her achievements as a leading female business owner.
- Emerging Innovator: Zef Neemuchwala, Super Foam Corp (Riverside) – Recognized for pioneering innovation in a burgeoning venture.
- Food, Hospitality & Entertainment Entrepreneur: Melina Maza, TKB Bakery & Deli (Indio) – Celebrated for culinary excellence and community impact (see spotlight below).
- General Entrepreneur: Mark DiLullo, Threshold Aviation Group (Chino) – Honored for business leadership in the aviation sector.
- Healthcare Entrepreneur: Harry Jackson, 360 Human Services (Apple Valley) – Acknowledged for innovation in healthcare and human services.
- Service-Based Entrepreneur: Zuriah McKnight, District & Charter Patrol (Ontario) and Gabriela Mendoza, HR Direct Services Inc. (Ontario) – Co-winners for outstanding service-oriented business success.
- Family Business Legacy Award: The Cramer Family, Star Milling Co. (Perris) – A special recognition honoring a fourth-generation family enterprise that has flourished for over five decades (see spotlight below).
This diverse group of entrepreneurs showcases the vibrant range of industries driving the Inland Empire’s economy, from sustainable design and manufacturing to gourmet food and cutting-edge services. Each award recipient was selected for embodying the “Bold by Design” ethos through innovation, perseverance, and positive impact on their community.
In addition to this year’s award winners, several AmPac clients were recognized as finalists and semi-finalists, further showcasing the strength of entrepreneurship across the region. High-Light Electric Inc. distinguished themselves as a finalist in the competitive Design, Engineering and Construction category, joining the evening’s leading innovators. Three additional AmPac clients reached the semi-finalist stage: Advanced CNC Industries, Inc., The Adaptive Athlete Inc., RSVC Company, and Azure Palm Hot Springs Resort and Day Spa Oasis. Each demonstrated the determination and forward-thinking spirit that the Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards seeks to honor, and we are proud to support their next steps as they continue to grow and lead in their industries.
Spotlight: Star Milling Co. – A Four-Generation Family Success Story
The Cramer family of Star Milling Co. has been crafting high-quality animal feeds for decades.
Star Milling Co. of Perris, led by the Cramer family received the 2025 Family Business Legacy Award for its remarkable multi-generational success, proudly presented by Hilda Kennedy, President and Founder of AmPac Business Capital. What began over 50 years ago as a small egg farm started by Olin Cramer has grown into a leading manufacturer of medication-free, premium animal feeds for companion animals, livestock, and aquaculture. The company’s brands, including Ace Hi, Integrity, Kelley’s, Ultra Balance, and Simplicity Organics, are staples in Western feed stores, and Star Milling also produces custom private-label formulations for major pet food brands.
As part of their continued growth, Star Milling partnered with AmPac Business Capital to secure permanent financing for their newly constructed operating facility. The expanded location more than doubled warehouse space, allowed pet food manufacturing to move into a clean food facility for FDA compliance, and positioned the company to reach a broader customer base.
Under the leadership of Richard and Bill Cramer, and now President Paul Cramer, the family has steadily reinvested in innovation. They added advanced capabilities over the years, including a high-capacity extruder, automated bagging systems, robotic palletizing, expanded storage, and a second milling facility. Their long-term commitment to quality and consistency remains at the core of the company’s identity. “The character of the company has not changed. It is still family owned, with a personal commitment to quality and good manufacturing practices,” says Chairman Bill Cramer.
The Cramer family’s blend of innovation and integrity has turned a humble farm into one of the West’s most respected feed manufacturers. Their story reflects the spirit of entrepreneurship in the Inland Empire and the power of long-term vision.
Spotlight: TKB Bakery & Deli – From “The Kid’s Business” to America’s Top Deli
In Indio, the Sippel family’s TKB Bakery & Deli has risen from modest beginnings to national acclaim. TKB, which fittingly stands for “The Kid’s Business,” started over 30 years ago as a small family venture by Athena and Paul Sippel. On hot summer days in the early 1990s, their young children, Brandon, Nathan, and Melina, went door-to-door selling Athena’s homemade cookie dough to neighbors. What began as a creative fundraising idea soon grew into a thriving enterprise: local coffee shops started ordering the dough, and eventually three major grocery store chains signed on to carry TKB’s products. Building on this success, the Sippels opened a deli storefront in 2002, bringing their delicious sandwiches and baked goods directly to the public.
Today, TKB Bakery & Deli is known as “one of America’s most successful delis,” supplying wholesale baked goods to multiple grocery chains and operating a bustling retail café and production facility. The business has earned numerous accolades, including being named Yelp’s #4 rated restaurant in the U.S. in 2014 and Yelp’s #1 Place to Eat in America in 2018. TKB has amassed thousands of rave customer reviews online, with near-perfect ratings on Yelp and Google, a testament to its superb, flavor-packed sandwiches (including the famous “TKB Special”) and decadent pastries like the Cheesecake Brownie. To accommodate its explosive growth, the Sippel family partnered with AmPac Business Capital (formerly Enterprise Funding Corporation) and American Business Bank to secure an SBA 504 loan, enabling them to design and build a larger, custom facility to serve their ever-growing fan base. The expanded location allowed TKB to increase production while maintaining the warm, welcoming atmosphere that patrons love. It is no wonder TKB has become a must-visit destination in the Coachella Valley, where every customer is treated like family and leaves with a smile.
Fueling the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
The 2025 Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards showcased what’s possible when passion, perseverance, and bold vision come together. The successes of Star Milling, TKB Bakery & Deli, and all of this year’s honorees are inspiring examples of small businesses making a big impact. At AmPac Business Capital, we are proud to have played a role in our clients’ journeys and remain committed to empowering more entrepreneurs across Southern California. Ready to write your own success story? Contact AmPac to see how we can help fuel your small business growth, from affordable SBA 504 loans for expansion to expert guidance and support. Let us help you turn today’s small business into tomorrow’s celebrated success story.