Governor's Small Business Awards Recipient Highlights

Governor’s Outstanding in Business Award
Perry Office Plus - H.B. and Lynnsay Macey

Perry Office Plus is a 103-year-old small business headquartered in Temple, serving all of central Texas and shipping into 27 states. Led by the second generation of the Macey Family, the business concentrates on business products, contract furniture and janitorial supplies. In the last five years, Perry Office Plus has acquired four office supply companies in central Texas and continues to grow its footprint with eight different local delivery routes covering Hillsboro to Buda, Huntsville to Marble Falls.

Governor’s Outstanding Innovator Award
Emporium Packaging & Spice Company - The Walker Family

Emporium Packaging & Spice Company is a family-owned business established in 1974 when they served the first bowls of Emporium Chili “deep in the Heart of Texas” in the small town of Temple. Almost immediately, customers wanted the ability to prepare and serve Emporium Chili in their homes. So, they created, packaged, and began to sell a spice mix that was simple, quick and easy to customize to individual tastes with separate salt and “fire” packs. At about the same time, Emporium Chili Mix was in demand by restaurants, so they packaged and sold the Emporium Chili Mix to restaurants in large, institutional sizes. Over time, the operation has evolved to create custom spice blends to include bread mixes, soups, seasonings and more for some of the finest restaurant chains in the United States. The original Emporium Chili Mix is available on Texas-based grocery store shelves. Plus, varieties of mixes and products are available online and in the retail space inside the production facility in Temple.

​Governor’s Outstanding Historically Underutilized Business Award
3 Texans Winery & Vineyard - Kim Langston & Lauryn Austin
 
3 Texans is a female owned, family-run vineyard and winery located in Temple, Texas. They started back in 2009 with the original planting of 4,000 grapevines. An additional 1,000 plants were added in 2015. Another 700 in 2020 along with a lot of learning and growth over the years! Kim Langston has become a local icon, inspiring women all around our community.

Governor’s Outstanding Community Partner Award
Temple Machine Shop, Inc. - Lester Fettig & Michelle DiGaetano
 
TMS Hydraulics knows the importance of connecting with the community with their President (Michelle DiGaetano) and General Manager (Lester Fettig) involved with the Temple Chamber of Commerce, Temple EDC, Temple Community Clinic, Lions Club, Altrusa, City Planning and Zoning, Temple Airport Advisory, RZ#1 (Reinvestment Zone), and other local organizations. TMS Hydraulics has partnered with Temple ISD to support their "Career and Technical Education" Center since 2014. As part of the curriculum, students come to TMS during the semester, once or twice a week for a couple of hours, are partnered with a Mentor, rotate through the departments to gain “On the Job” (OJT) training to prepare for the workforce before their graduation. This supports the growing demand for skilled manufactural labor in the Temple community. TMS Hydraulics also donated a Mill for use by 7th and 8th graders in the TISD Industrial Arts Program. TMS also offers 7th and 8th grade students the chance to visit their facility; thereby, offering them a realistic job preview. Recently, TMS Hydraulics began working with the Belton ISD CTE Advisory Committee to assist with enhancing their program to translate real world manufacturing opportunities.