Bishop-McCann and its president, Dan Nilsen, are the recipients of this year’s Mr. K Award, which is presented by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce to the city’s best small business.

The award, which takes its name from Ewing Marion Kauffman, was announced May 29 at a luncheon for the chamber’s annual Small Business Celebration. Bishop-McCann produces meetings, live events and other gatherings.

The win was a personal one for Nilsen, who used to work at Kauffman’s Marion Laboratories.

“I learned Mr. K’s most important values:  ‘Treat others as you want to be treated – with dignity and respect,’ and, ‘Share life’s rewards with those who make them possible,’” Nilsen said. “I founded Bishop-McCann with those same core values and try hard to live by them every single day. After 17 years in business, I can honestly tell that it’s the reason for our success. I hope he’s looking down on us right now with pride.”

The chamber also presented several other awards at the luncheon.

A 25 Under 25® alumnus, Alpha Energy & Electric won the Diverse Small Business Award.

Snow & Co. took home the Aspirational Entrepreneur Award, which is presented to a younger company that has “been built on ideology, values and the goal to make change.”

Ace ImageWear won the Legacy of Kansas City Award. The honor goes to a long-lived small business; Ace was formed in 1932.