Release Date: April 11, 2006
Contact:  David Owen at 335-6060 or Mary Anne Boyd,
S.D. Chamber at 263-0040

Governor’s Giant Visions Business Competition Winners Announced

Sioux Falls, SD - As host of the Governor’s Giant Vision Business Awards Program, South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry President David Owen announced the five winners of the 2006 competition.      

After a preliminary competition that reduced 49 applicants to 16 qualifying entries, the competition concluded with day-long judging activities Tuesday, April 13 at the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls with Governor Mike Rounds presenting the top prize.  The following were selected as the 2006 Governor’s Giant Vision winners.

The $20,000 winner was Tim Aughenbaugh of Talario, Inc., Brookings.

Talario, LLC is a leader in the emerging digital writing market.  Xpaper TM, Talario’s ground breaking digital writing product, allows users to easily get digital copies (PDFs) of any document that has handwriting.  Xpaper reduces or eliminates the need for scanning, faxing, and sending documents via courier service.  It reduces costs and hassles for the individual user, and enables entire business processes to be streamlined.  Talario’s products are used by universities, hospitals, accounting firms, law firms, government agencies, and many other industries.  Talario was founded in 2003 by Tim Aughenbaugh and is headquartered in Brookings, South Dakota.

Two second place prizes of $10,000 each were awarded to the following.

Bio-High Tech, Dr. Susan Liu, Sioux Falls

Bio-HighTech (BHT) is a privately held biotech firm developing rapid diagnostic testing kits for U.S. and world markets. The principle investigator is an America certified M.D. with the background of Ph.D. (to be finished), a Masters of Science in molecular biology and more than eight years working experience in the rapid test industrial field.  The Bladder Tumor Antigen stat for bladder tumor diagnosis and follow up produced by the PI is the only one to date FDA approved Tumor Marker Test on One-step test. Currently, BHT has one drug test patent and three National Institutes of Health and Small Business Innovation Research applications are pending.

Tamcenan, Dr. Thomas White, Sioux Falls

Tamcenan Corporation is a Sioux Falls manufacturer of surgical implants for treating eye diseases.  We share the Governor’s Giant Vision of South Dakota as a great place for businesses to find reliable workers, and from which to export products to the nation and world.   Our company has developed, patented, and secured FDA regulatory clearance to market devices for the treatment of glaucoma, retinal detachments, and macular degeneration.  Our newest product is an artificial cornea for use in patients who fail standard corneal transplants.  This potential 14 to 20 million dollar a year U.S. market is presently underserved.  We have secured broad U.S. Patent protection in 2004, and have agreements to work with the Lions Eye Bank of South Dakota and University medical centers (including University of Minnesota, mayo Clinic, and Bascom-Palmer) to conduct a Human Clinical Trail that will bring the new artificial cornea to the market in three years.

There were also two third place prizes of $2,500 each awarded to the following businesses.

Hi-Tech Building LLC, Ron Jupiter, Sioux Falls

Hi-Tech Building Systems LLC is a manufacturer of custom super insulated climate-controlled doghouses.  We are the only manufacturer in the industry to provide insulated per enclosures with unique exteriors of simulated brick, stone, slate or stucco finishes.  Our revolutionary product suite provides the ultimate all weather protection for pets of all types. 

Kustom Cycles, Inc., Brian Klock, Mitchell

Kustom Cycles, Inc. is the combined forces of Klock Werks Kustom Cycles and Watercuts.  This newly formed entity is poised to capitalize on the rising popularity of Klock Werks motorcycles and designs as it prepares to launch a complete line of parts as well as a new internet retail site.
Quickly becoming known worldwide for innovative and creative workmanship, the opportunities for this design team include an upcoming Discovery Channel episode and continued magazine coverage. The timing is right for the custom parts line as they have been selected as the cover bike for the world's largest wholesale supplier, Drag Specialties, and a new mid-year catalog is in the works. Currrent internet traffic (www.kustomcycles.com) is 1.4 million hits a month, Brian Klock and the design team he has assembled are ready to fufill the wishes of the masses by bringing their creative products to mainstream bike owners and taking Klock Werks to the next level of professionalism.

“The goal of this program is to encourage people to explore being a business owner and to create an exciting future while also expanding South Dakota’s economy.  We have worked hard to produce an event that will benefit all of the businesses participating.  While the prize money will help the finalists, the contacts and rigor required to be a qualifier will prepare each entrepreneur to advance their business idea” said David Owen, President, South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Governor’s Giant Vision Business Awards were established to help citizens realize that South Dakota is the very best place to start a successful business.   The program was designed as an opportunity for entrepreneurs to compete for seed money and a chance to achieve their dream. 

Founders of this program are Governor Mike Rounds and the State of South Dakota; Black Hills Corp., Rapid City; Christiansen Land & Cattle Ltd., Kimball; Dacotah Banks, Aberdeen; Daktronics, Inc., Brookings; First National Bank SD, Yankton; Home Federal Bank, Sioux Falls; Toshiba America, Mitchell; US Bank, Sioux Falls, Aberdeen and Rapid City; and Wheeler Manufacturing, Lemmon. 

This South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry program is chaired by Brad Wheeler, President of Wheeler Manufacturing in Lemmon.  Wheeler commented “We are fortunate to have successful entrepreneurs take time to be judges and really work hard to examine all of these new ideas.  This is an exciting day with high energy people working hard to share in the American dream.”

The Governor’s Giant Vision Business Competition is an annual event held in April.