Eight going into Hall of Fame

LONGMONT – Eight people will be inducted into the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame during a luncheon on Thursday, April 29, in Longmont.

The Class of 2010 will include Marvin Caruthers, George Karakehian, Doug Larson, Jeremy Martin, Kevin Sipple, Hung Tran, and Butch and Bev Vernon. They will be recognized for the positive influence they’ve had on Boulder County through their businesses and community involvement.

Caruthers is a professor of biochemistry and bio-organic chemistry at the University of Colorado. He has been a member of the faculty since 1973, earning numerous honors and distinctions along the way for his RNA and DNA research.

Caruthers was a co-founder of Amgen Inc. and Applied Biosystems and helped launch Array BioPharma. He remains on the board of directors at Array BioPharma and also is a board member of miRagen Therapeutics and Nanosphere. He formerly served on the board at Biostar.

Karakehian has been meeting customer needs for antique maps, prints, vintage posters and custom framing for more than 20 years through his business, Art Source International in Boulder. Karakehian is called Mr. Downtown Boulder for his efforts to promote the downtown and Boulder. He is a member of the Boulder City Council and is known to support many people and organizations. He has been active as a board member of the Imagine! Foundation, the CU Buff Club, Downtown Boulder Inc. and the Guaranty Bank advisory board.

Larson, Martin and Sipple purchased the Eldorado Springs Resort properties in 1983, founding Eldorado Artesian Springs Inc. In 1986, the company went public. In 2001, the company began construction of a new facility in Louisville. Its key product, Eldorado Natural Spring Water, has received numerous awards over the years. The trio and their company have supported hundreds of organizations and events throughout the county.

Tran is a lifelong practitioner and teacher of the martial arts. Born in Saigon, Viet Nam during the war, Tran, his two brothers and two sisters became refugees from their country. In 1994, Tran opened Tran’s Martial Arts and Fitness in Longmont. The organization consists of six schools with locations in Longmont, Lafayette, Boulder, Loveland, Denver and Fort Collins, as well as affiliate locations throughout the country. Among his many contributions, Tran provides a scholarship program for those who cannot afford to attend his school, and life skills seminars to raise money for area schools.

Butch and Bev Vernon own and operate Budget Home Center in Longmont. When they opened their 10,000-square-foot store in 1984, they introduced themselves to the city as locally owned and operated – and you could have the owner deliver your goods. In 1998 they purchased land and built their current 80,000-square-foot store. They have supported many charitable organizations throughout the years, but have taken a special interest in the OUR Center. They’ve donated materials and goods to worthy causes for many years.

The awards luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, home of the Hall of Fame. Tickets are available for $50, tables for $450. For more information and to make reservations, visit www.halloffamebiz.com or call Stacy Cornay at 303-651-6612.