The winners of the 2018 Heise Entrepreneurial Spirit Award were announced at the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner held Thursday, June 7 at the Herrington. Martin Heise made the presentation to this year’s winners, Tom and Sara Jane Kuhn, owners of Funland Family Fun Center in McHenry.
Tom and Sara Jane Kuhn opened Funland Arcade in 1971. Tom felt a mini golf family center would be a good attraction for the burgeoning lake area. Their first amusements were a Go-Kart track and an open air arcade building, with the miniature golf course opening the following year. For twenty years, the Kuhns operated Funland as a summer business, with no indoor restrooms or air conditioning. In 1992, with the expansion of the lake sewer system, the Kuhns tore down the old arcade and replaced it with a larger building that would include pizza sales, ice cream, indoor restrooms and air conditioning. In 1994, they added bumper cars, a climbing wall and the miniature golf course was updated to a more modern course with water falls, streams, lakes and a cave highlighting some of Garrett County’s history. Today, Funland Family Fun Center, the second longest continuously owned business on Rt. 219, is open daily in season and on weekends year round.
Tom, a Southern High School teacher (now retired), knew the importance of a first job and as a result, he and Sara Jane have hired many local high school and college students each summer at Funland. Some of their past employees now work as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, electrical engineers and there’s even a NASA scientist, all of whom remain part of the Kuhn’s extended family.
Tom and Sara Jane donate their time to the Lions Club and Sara Jane was a long-time member of the Business and Professional Women (BPW). Over the years, they have supported local organizations like Believe in Tomorrow, the Dove Center, Garrett Mentors, Garrett County after school programs, local Fire and Rescue Departments, local church Bible School programs and more. They sponsor the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce’s annual July 4th Fire on the Mountain Fireworks Display in McHenry each year, they provide complimentary Funland passes to local students attending annual After-Proms and they have given contributions to the youth and families involved with the Overlook Judy Center.
“I am very excited to see Tom and Sara Jane Kuhn receive the 2018 Heise Award and be recognized for their business achievements and contributions to our community,” said Nicole Christian, Chamber President & CEO. “Their vision for business development and perseverance to grow and succeed exemplify entrepreneurship. Their passion for Garrett County and desire to give back make them amazing role models for our young people. Congratulations Tom and Sara Jane.”
The Heise award criteria states eligible nominees are “business owners including partners/families that originated, developed, and/or significantly expanded their business.”
Additional criteria for this award includes: having a willingness to take risks with the possibility of losing all, being involved in the community, having high ethical standards, being a member of the Chamber of Commerce and having demonstrated leadership (through one or more of the following):
- By overcoming a formidable problem that threatened the business’s existence
- By showing business acumen through embarking on a creative, insightful or overlooked opportunity that makes important contributions to Garrett County’s business environment
- Through substantive community impact
The Heise Entrepreneurial Spirit Award Committee, comprised of previous winners, recommends finalists and a winner to the Chamber Board of Directors. The Board makes the final determination on the winner.
Past honorees include Jonathan “Smiley” Kessler; Bill Sisler; Olen Beitzel; Johnny Marple; Jim Flanigan, Sr.; Will and Sharon Roszell; Barry Rush; Rob Michael; Dave & Mimi Demaree; Brenda McDonnell; Bill Meagher; Michael Deligatti, Sr.; Jan Russell; Frank Vitéz; Judy Devlin; Skip and Linda Carr; Brian Branthoover; Rob Heilig and Nancy Railey.
Photo Caption (left to right): Martin Heise, Sara Jane Kuhn and Tom Kuhn 2018 Heise Entrepreneurial Spirt Award winners, and Jan Russell, Chair of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce at the annual Garrett County Chamber of Commerce Membership Meeting & Dinner
