Baylor Business Impact Awards Recognizes Alumni-Led Businesses

The John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise in Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business has announced the winners of the third annual Baylor Business Impact Awards.

The Baylor Business Impact Awards program was created to recognize successful Baylor alumni-led businesses and Texas family-owned businesses. For the third year in a row, businesses were presented with an award in recognition of the transformational impacts made within the industry, community and company. Baylor Business Impact Awards recipients were honored during a gala on Friday, Oct. 6, at the Baylor Student Union Building in the Barfield Drawing Room.

“With the Baylor Business Impact Awards, we have the privilege of spotlighting a wide variety of businesses that are each working toward a positive greater good impact under the leadership of Baylor alumni,” Priscilla James, program manager at the Baugh Center, said.

The Baylor Business Impact Award 2023 winners are:

Dean's Award - TEN Capital Network; Hall Martin, BA ’84

Texas Family Business of the Year - Woven Metal Products; Russell Hillenburg, BBA ’05

Community Commitment Award - Creative Waco; Fiona Bond, MBA ’20  

Great Commission Award - Hallelujah! BBQ, LLC; Blake W. Barrow, BA ’80, MA ’83, JD ’88

Recent Alumni Award - CrateBind, LLC; John Harlan, BBA ’13

Current Student Award - Kids Create Fun Crate; Grace Simmons, Sophomore Pre-Business Student

The award categories highlight various aspects of successful businesses that align with Baylor University’s mission to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service. All awards are exclusively for Baylor students and alumni, except for the Texas Family Business of the Year Award, which honors multi-generational, family-owned businesses committed to family and business continuity.

Students from the Department of Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation were also recognized at the event as the 2023-2024 scholarships were presented. Tristen Darmodihardjo, a senior Finance and Entrepreneurship major from The Colony, Texas, was featured as the Drayton McLane Scholarship recipient. 

"It is because of the generosity of Baylor alumni that Baylor Entrepreneurship has the opportunity to provide both merit- and need-based scholarships to students who will undoubtedly make an impact on the business world of tomorrow," James said.

Partners for the event included:

• Ambassadors Impact Network
• Engedi Group

"It's an honor to recognize these businesses that are truly making a societal impact under the leadership of Baylor alumni," James said.