Owner of CELCO, Inc. in Anthony is SBA’s Kansas Small Business Person of the Year

Ken Bellesine is SBA’s Kansas Small Business Person of the Year!

Central Electropolishing Company, Inc. serves 300 companies located in 48 states, Mexico, Canada and Puerto Rico

WICHITA, Kan. – Mr. Ken Bellesine, pictured 2nd from the left, the owner of Central Electropolishing Company, Inc. (CELCO), located in Anthony (Kansas) is SBA’s 2017 Kansas Small Business Person of the Year.

In late March, the head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Administrator Linda McMahon  announced the 54 Small Business Person of the Year state and territorial winners.

Mr. Bellesine and the other 53 recipients are now competing for the 2017 National Small Business Person of the Year.  All awardees were invited to Washington, D.C. to participate in events and ceremonies on April 30-May 1, and Mr. Bellesine and his wife will be making the trip!

“I feel very honored to have been selected for this award, “said Bellesine. “I’ve remained focused on growing the business, and not looking for this kind of recognition. So, it was a nice surprise to be honored like this,” Bellesine continued.

Mr. Bellesine’s company, Central Electropolishing Co. (CELCO), has been owned, operated and managed by him and his family for 30 years. Bellesine started the company in the fall of 1986 with the assistance of a SBA loan. You can read the Success Story article about CELCO by clicking here.

Electropolishing is an electro-chemical metal finishing process that can make nickel, stainless steel and other metals shine like chrome. It can also remove or alter the elements already in the metal being polished to give it the desired qualities of passivity, smoothness, precise measurement or appearance.

The process takes place when the metal is soaked in hot baths of electrolytes, phosphoric and sulfuric acids, and electrically charged at a prescribed voltage, temperature and time.

Industrial sectors, such as medical, pharmaceutical, food production, vacuum systems and semiconductor production rely on the benefits of electopolishing for the quality, safety and efficiency of their products.

Since the first 3,000 square foot building was erected in 1986, CELCO has grown 15 times that size and currently does electropolishing work for approximately 300 companies, located in 48 states, Mexico, Canada and Puerto Rico. They also provide acid passivation, aqueous cleaning and oxygen cleaning services.

Bellesine attributes the company’s success to their focus on quality, delivery and price, in that order and not the other way around. He also has tremendous pride in the hard working staff, which includes his son Steve, the president, and two grandsons. CELCO has many long term employees that execute the technical work for the company. “We would not be where we are today without our great employees” concluded Bellesine.

Photo: Central Electropolishing Company, Inc. (CELCO) facility in Anthony.

Every year since 1963 SBA takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from across the nation through National Small Business Week. As events are finalized more details will be posted on www.sba.gov/NSBW