Being an outdoorsman, Ed Kalbach was drawn to Utah's skiing, so he moved from Pennsylvania to Logan in 1979 and since then has established a business that has grown to 100 employees and $5 million in sales.
Over the past five years, EK EKcessories has increased its sales 496 percent, and he has acquired eight patents on items he invented for hikers, skiers, mountain climbers and other outdoor enthusiasts.For his efforts, Kalbach has been named Utah Small Business Person of the Year and will be honored, along with other small businesses and small business advocates, during a Small Business Administration luncheon at noon on Tuesday, June 10, in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.
He opened a small ski and motorcycle shop in Logan in 1983 and started to develop accessory items for the outdoor consumer. With the help of his wife, Marilyn, Kalbach has developed 130 unusual and one-of-a-kind products and displays that are featured in stores across the country.
One of his major milestones was getting EK products in Sunglass Hut, a chain with more than 2,000 stores in the United States.
Stan Nakano, SBA director for Utah, said these other people will be honored during the luncheon that is part of National Small Business Week, June 8-14:
- Financial Services Award, U.S. Bank, Salt Lake City.
- Prime Contractor of the Year, Richard Manufacturing Co.
- Subcontractor of the Year, Sharp Tool Inc.
- Small Business Exporter of the Year, Cirque Corp.
- Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Garrett Gunderson, Garrett Gunderson Car Care, Price.
- Media Advocate of the Year, Chance Cook, producer of the Utah Business show on KSL-TV.
- Women in Business Advocate, Jeri G. Garner-Johnson, president and chief executive officer of Jeranbe Inc., Logan.
- Veteran Advocate of the Year, Robert Bizell, Davis County Employment Service.
- Accountant Advocate of the Year, David B. Bybee, president of Bybee & Co.
- Minority Small Business Advocate, Barbara L. Reeves, University of Utah purchasing agent.
- Volunteer Services Award, Norm Fitzgerald, Service Corps of Retired Executives.
- District Director's Award, Mote Mo' Unga.