CFRA (the “Center for Rural Affairs”, Lyons, NE) has chosen Connie to receive their “Entrepreneur” award in February at their annual “MarketPlace Nebraska” conference in Kearney.

Connie works frequently with CFRA’s REAP program – the “Rural Enterprise Assistance Program.”

Here are some excerpts from the award letter Connie received.

The Entrepreneur Award is for an innovative person working with REAP who is in the forefront of microenterprise development.

. . . REAP staff appreciate your dedication, perseverance, strong work ethic, and positive attitude in building your business and are proud to have you as our 2010 Center For Rural Affairs Entrepreneur Award winner!

And then they give a little history of the development of Connie’s “Efficiency Counts.”

Efficiency Counts started in April, 2004, in McCook. You took the initiative to acquire an Accounting Degree from Mid-Plains Community College located in McCook and initially started Efficiency Counts in the back of Prairie Wind PC’s in McCook in 2004.

In 2007, you moved to Hastings where husband Larry serves as Pastor of First Baptist Church. You opened the doors to Efficiency Counts in an office building near downtown Hastings in April, 2008. The business has grown steadily over the last 6 1/2 years, in customer base, income and recognition.

Efficiency Counts recently “moved up” a floor to Suite 208, a much bigger office. Recently Efficiency Counts added 2 employees both of which are young mothers – one who is single.