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2007 BiGIDEA Awards Winners
Gourmet Resources, Inc. d/b/a Terra Sol Foods – Alex Weeks Alex Weeks began researching the spicy food business in 1996 and started Eco Center International to help a group of Mexican Chile farmers form a cooperative. She began selling chiles by the truckload to wholesale grocery distributors. Her side business turned into in full time retail job in 2003 when products were made, tested and labeled and started selling at Central Market. The company has grown to 3 main well known gourmet chili based food lines: Terra Sol, Texas Six Shooter and Romeo's. Products consist of 45 different products which are currently carried by grocery distributors across the country. Alex recently expanded her business operations by purchasing a food manufacturing facility and is now offering packing services to other small business owners. Gourmet Resources’ operating model is: “We could simple bottle up our family of products…but we prefer to spread the word rather than keeping our products bottled up”
Greenling Organic Delivery– Mason Arnold, Jonathan Duffy, Jonathan McCoy Greenling Organic Delivery was founded by organic-loving folks who know a flavorful, pesticide-free apple when they taste one. Greeling’s mission is to make organics more accessible and affordable to everyone. Mason Arnold believes that we can achieve remarkable economic progress without sacrificing our health and the health of our environment. Jonathan Duffy came from the non-profit sector to help Greenling develop as a socially and environmentally responsible company. He has a passion developing the organic industry and raising public awareness of our food supply and the challenges it faces in the coming decades. Jonathan McCoy helped develop and launch Greenling. With five years of experience with product marketing. Jonathan serves as an advisor to Greenling while also operating two other businesses in town: GreenLight Delivery, and Longhorn Delivery. Greenling’s innovative website allows complete online ordering.
Home & Hearth Realty – Gwynn Carpenter and Judy Stroud Gywnn and Judy were both teachers' prior to becoming entrepreneurs. They have developed a very successful and unique real estate company which provides ultimate customer service with an "Austin Attitude-laid back and professional results". For example, they will pick you up from the airport if you are moving from out of town to house hunt in Austin. If your house needs cleaning out or fixing up to get the best price, Gywnn and Judy will organize the jobs, find the workers and have held garage sales for their clients. Gwynn and Judy contribute to the community as well. Annually they host a holiday party for friends and clients and ask people to bring donations for the food bank and Safeplace. The transition from teachers to real estate brokers has been successful and good for our community.
Joseph Hawkings founded a New Thing, Inc in 2000. He has gained a reputation for his ability to cultivate businesses in urban communities and leverage his relationship with corporations to bring national franchisees to desired development communities. A New Thing, Inc. latest commercial retail development center in East Austin has assisted with the economic growth, employment opportunities and beautification of the East Austin corridor. Joseph's entrepreneurial Knack created O.I.E. Salon and the Soap Box Landromat & Cleaner which is a thriving business within the center. Joseph chose East Austin not only because it makes good business sense but because he cares deeply about minority communities, part of which comes from the example set by his business owner parents who served the Dallas area minority community for many years.
Ms. B's Authentic Creole Cuisine – Billy & Brenda McGowan For over 10 years, Billy and Brenda "Ms. B" McGowan have brought unique and authentic Creole cuisine to Austin. From gumbo to crawfish enchiladas to the famous sweet potato pecan pie, Ms. B's food has impressed customers and critics alike. Billy has decades of experience in the restaurant business, having workd as a chef for eateries ranging from burger joints to church kitchens to New Olean's renowned Chez Helene, Brenda is a former nurse and hospital administrator as well as a formally trained chef. They opened their first restuarant, McGowan's Cajun Kitchen, in Pfluggerville in 1994. In 2000, they opened the first Ms. B's location on Mesa Drive. Following the success of the first Ms. B's, the couple opened a second location on East 11th Street in 2006 which serves as a vibrant part of the revitalization of East Austin.
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Most Creative 
Rookie of the Year 
Best Transition 
A New Thing, Inc. – Joseph Hawkins
BiGAlumnus