- Inducted into Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in April 2007. John is the only other Kentuckian to be inducted beside Colonel Sanders.
- Honored with the 2003 Kentuckian Award by the Happy Chandler Foundation.
- 'Best Local Businessperson' in the 2001 Best of Louisville Awards by Louisville Magazine.
- Inducted into the Louisville Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame in 2000.
- One of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans for 2000 by the National Jaycees Organization.
- 1998 National Ernst & Young Retail/Consumer Entrepreneur of the Year.
