Smitty Belcher

Smitty Belcher, chief executive officer of P1 Group, Inc., has received the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2014 award in the industrial services category in the Central Midwest.

The award recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and success in innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

P1 Group, a family-owned business, is one of the nation’s premier electrical, mechanical and service contractors with more than 900 employees and offices in eight cities, including Lawrence.

The Entrepreneur of the Year awards are sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and SAP America.

As the Central Midwest award winner, Belcher is now eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2014 national award program, which will be announced later this year.

Belcher, of Lawrence, said his business has a low turnover rate and spends $2 million to $3 million per year on training.