IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
Michael Edward Jones feels like 13 years of hard work is finally paying off.
In 2008, Jones co-founded Qwiktarp Inc. which makes customized truck bed covers for pick-up trucks and covers for patio furniture.
The Palm Springs company has been nominated for a Spirit of the Entrepreneur Award in the Small/Emerging Enterprise category, one of six categories that recognize some of the best businesses, and business minds, in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
This will be the 19th year the awards will give out by the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship at Cal State San Bernardino.
Other nominees in the Small/Emerging Enterprise category are:
- Arcade Coffee Roasters in Riverside;
- Lucky’s Coffee Roasters in Claremont;
- RHC Productions in Eastvale;
- Stone Church Brewing in Corona.
Jones, a former Hewlett Packard employee, oversees four employees at Qwiktarp. He says he’s thrilled that the company he started with his brother Mack has been nominated.
“I could not be happier,” Jones said. “I think we have a great future. Forty-seven out of 50 states have some kind of tarp requirements for pickup trucks, and we have high-quality tarps that people can afford.
“So I’m looking forward to the next 10 years.”
The five remaining categories are General, Manufacturing Service-Based, Healthcare, and Social entrepreneur.
The Small/Emerging Enterprise category is restricted to businesses with less $500,000 in annual revenue, said Mike Stull, director of the center for entrepreneurship.
Nonprofits are included in the General Entrepreneur category. A Best-of-the-Best Award is also given out, and Cal State San Bernardino business students deliver 90-second pitches for businesses that are judged by the audience.
All six categories, and the Best-of-the-Best winner, are judged by former Spirit of the Entrepreneur winners.
This year’s black-tie awards ceremony will be held Nov. 10 at the Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Ave., in Riverside. For more information visit https://spiritawardsie.com/ or call (909) 329-4515.
