Two Olathe companies came to Topeka on Wednesday night and took home two of the state's top business awards from Gov. Bill Graves.

Olathe Health System Inc. and Innovative Materials Systems Inc. of Olathe were awarded the 2000 Governor's Award of Excellence and the 2000 Governor's Exporter of the Year honors, respectively, during the 12th annual Kansas Cavalry Encampment at the Capitol Plaza Hotel.

The Kansas Cavalry is a group of business and economic development professionals who serve as Kansas business ambassadors. The encampment was a kickoff to Kansas Business Appreciation Month, which is sponsored by the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing and honors Kansas companies that promote a positive business environment through economic opportunity.

Olathe Health System Inc. is an integrated delivery system that includes 16 physician clinics under Olathe Medical Services Inc.; a tertiary care facility, Olathe Medical Center Inc.; an acute care facility, Miami County Medical Center; a retail pharmacy, Pharmacy Express; the Kansas Cardiovascular Center; and the Women's Health Center.

The company has conducted business in Kansas since 1984. It employs 2,000 people and has expanded its facilities by more than a million square feet during the past 10 years through a capital investment of $100 million.

The company supports many community events and organizations with time and money. These organizations include the Olathe District Schools Foundation, Baker University, Kansas School for the Deaf, Children's Center for the Visually Impaired and numerous community fund drives. The company has received numerous awards for excellence, including Corporate Citizen of the Year, Community Pride Award and Partner of the Year.

The Governor's Award of Excellence is given each year to an outstanding Kansas business. Frank H. Devocelle, Olathe Health System president and chief executive officer, said the award was a great honor.

"This award acknowledges the efforts of our employees and physicians who make excellence possible," Devocelle said. "We're pleased to be chosen as the recipient of this award, especially when considering the prestigious nominees."

Innovative Material Systems Inc. is a privately held corporation that manufactures and distributes hydraulic dredges, weed harvesters and pumping systems worldwide. The company employs 30 people. Since 1996, its export sales have increased 175 percent. IMS products can be found in 17 countries.

The Governor's Exporter of the Year award recognizes outstanding results by a Kansas company in the area of export sales. The other finalists for this year's award were Camplex Corp., of Emporia; IFR Systems, of Wichita; and Promotional Resources Group of Cos., of Topeka.

Exporter of the Year applications were received and reviewed by officials in the Trade Development Division of the KDOCH. Members of the Kansas International Trade Coordinating Council, an organization comprising public and private business entities, selected the finalists. Criteria judged include years of export experience, export sales as a percentage of total sales, new or innovative international marketing techniques, new product lines introduced to the international marketplace, and new countries or markets to which the company has started exporting.

KDOCH officials are traveling across the state this month to pay tribute to other outstanding businesses. Recognition ceremonies are taking place today in Lawrence and Manhattan, Friday in Wichita, Tuesday in Scott City and Wednesday in Pittsburg.  Note: The Kansas Exporter award was made to IMS, Inc. before LWT acquired the intellectual property of IMS, Inc. in 2003.