SBA Administrator Announces National Small Business Week Awardees
Awardees invited to Washington, D.C. recognition ceremony, April 30 - May 1
WASHINGTON, March 22, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Administrator Linda McMahon, the head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, today announced the 2017 National Small Business Week awardees for 16 different categories ranging from exporting, outreach, contracting, lending, disaster recovery to manufacturing and research and development.
Last week McMahon announced the 54 Small Business Person of the Year state and territorial winners. These recipients are now competing for the 2017 National Small Business Person of the Year. All awardees have been invited to Washington, D.C. to participate in events and ceremonies on April 30-May 1.
"More than half of all Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of three net new jobs in the U.S. each year. I couldn't be prouder of all the awardees this year – they are working to grow small businesses, create 21st century jobs, drive innovation, and increase America's global competitiveness. It is an honor during National Small Business Week to honor and celebrate their hard work and success," McMahon said.
Awards announced today:
- Exporter of the Year
- Jody C. Raskind Mission Lender of the Year
- Small Business Investment Company of the Year
- SCORE Chapter of the Year
- Awards to SBA Resource Partners:
- Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Excellence and Innovation Award
- Women's Business Center of Excellence Award
- Veterans Business Outreach Center Excellence in Service Award
- Phoenix Awards for Disaster Recovery:
- Outstanding Small Business Disaster Recovery
- Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery, Public Official
- Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery, Volunteer
- Federal Procurement Awards:
- Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year
- Small Business Subcontractor of the Year
- Dwight D. Eisenhower Awards for Excellence (for large prime contractors who use small businesses as suppliers and contractors in Services, R&D and Manufacturing)
- 8(a) Graduate of the Year
Each year since 1963, the president has issued a proclamation calling for the celebration of National Small Business Week. National Small Business Week is set as the first week in May, and this year the dates are April 30 – May 6 with national events planned in Washington, D.C., New York City, Indianapolis, Dallas and Fresno, Calif.
Awardees
National Exporter of the Year
Abram's Bed LLC
Dba The Safety Sleeper
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Rose Morris
President
Small Business Development Center – Excellence and Innovation Award
SBDC at Hamilton Mill
Hamilton, Ohio
Mr. David Riggs
Director
Women's Business Center of Excellence
Mi Casa Women's Business Center
Denver, Colorado
Elena Vasconez
Director
SCORE – Chapter of the Year
SCORE Boston – Chapter #20
Boston, Massachusetts
Laura Colcord
Co-Chair
Howard Fine
Past Co-Chair
Veterans Business Outreach Center Excellence in Service
VetBiz Central
Flint, Michigan
Matt Sherwood
Executive Director
8(a) Graduate of the Year
Healthcare Management Solutions LLC
Fairmont, West Virginia
Leah Joan Heimbach
President
Jody C. Raskind Mission Lender of the Year
Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wendy Katherine Baumann
President/Chief Visionary Officer
Small Business Investment Company (SBIC)
Deerpath Capital Management, LP
New York City
James H. Kirby
CEO & Director
Phoenix Awards:
Outstanding Small Business Disaster Recovery
Ember Industries, Inc.
Austin, Texas
Rob Leonardis
President
Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery by a Volunteer
Susan Jack
Clendenin, West Virginia
Outstanding Contributions To Disaster Recovery by a Volunteer (two winners)
Carol Huchingson
Director of Social Services
Lakeport, California
Stephen K. Benjamin
Mayor, City of Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year
QMF Steel, Inc.
Campbell, Texas
Sherrill Lester
President
Small Business Subcontractor of the Year
IO Environmental and Infrastructure, Inc.
San Diego, California
Michael Bilodeau
Owner/CEO
Dwight D. Eisenhower Awards
Services:
Jacobs Engineering, Inc.
Huntsville, Alabama
Randy Lycans
Jacobs Vice President & ESSSA Group GM
Research and Development:
Wyle Laboratories, Inc.
Houston, Texas
Helen Lawley
Small Business Liaison Officer
Manufacturing:
Lockheed Martin Corp.
Bethesda, Maryland
Susannah Raheb
Corporate Supply Diversity Leader
For more information about National Small Business Week visit: www.sba.gov/nsbw
ABOUT THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 and since January 13, 2012 has served as a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. www.sba.gov
Contact: Terry Sutherland 202-205-6919
Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news
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Release Number: 17-13
SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration
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