SBA Administrator Announces National Small Business Week Awardees

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Administrator Linda McMahon, the head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, announced the 2019 National Small Business Week awardees for 17 different categories ranging from research and development, exporting, outreach, contracting, lending, disaster recovery to manufacturing and construction. 

"The SBA works to connect entrepreneurs to counseling and funding opportunities that provide the boost they need, no matter what stage of the lifecycle their business is in. Together with our SBA lending and resource partners in communities across America, small businesses are able to confidentially drive our economy," McMahon said.  "During National Small Business Week, the SBA will present well-deserved honors to the many individuals and organizations that have excelled at assisting small businesses, whether they are starting, growing, or recovering from disasters."

Last month, McMahon announced the 53 Small Business Persons of the Year state and territorial winners. These recipients are now competing for the 2019 National Small Business Person of the Year. 

All awardees have been invited to Washington, D.C. to participate in events and ceremonies on May 5-6.  

Awards announced today:

• Exporter of the Year
• Jody C. Raskind Microlender 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, Manufacturing, and Contracting)
• 8(a) Graduate of the Year

National Small Business Week will be observed May 5-11, 2019, with events in Washington, D.C., around the country and online. 

2019 National Winners

Exporter of the Year
EarthQuaker Devices
Akron, OH
Julianne Marie Robbins, CEO
Jamie R. Stillman, Founder, President, Product Designer

Jody C. Raskind Microlender of the Year
Colorado Enterprise Fund
Denver, CO 
Ceyl Prinster, CFA
President and Chief Executive Officer

Small Business Investment Company
Eagle Fund III, LP 
St. Louis, MO
Wayne L. Smith II
Managing Director

SCORE
Portland, Maine Chapter
Portland, ME
Nancy Strojny, Chapter Chair

Small Business Development Center – Excellence and Innovation Award
Ohio SBDC at Youngstown State University
Youngstown, OH
Patricia Veisz, Director

Women's Business Center
Montana Women's Business Center at Prospera Business Network
Bozeman, MT
Suzi Berget White, Director

Veterans Business Outreach Center
Gulf Coast State College
Panama City, FL
Brenton Peacock, Associate Director

2019 Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery by a Public Official
Linda Parks
Ventura County Supervisor, District 2
Thousand Oaks, CA

2019 Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery by a Volunteer
Christine Nieves Rodriguez
Luis Rodriguez Sanchez
Volunteers/Co-Founders
Proyecto de Apoyo Mutuo Mariana (PAM) (Mariana Mutual Support Project)
Humacao, PR

2019 Phoenix Award for Outstanding Small Business Disaster Recovery
Stephanie Vitori, President
Cheeseburger Baby
Miami Beach, FL

National Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year
Medved Global, Inc.
Dolores, CO
Michelle Hicks, President

National Small Business Subcontractor of the Year
Admiral Engineering & Manufacturing Company, Inc.
Phoenix, AZ
Jennifer Rahn, President

Dwight D. Eisenhower Award – Construction Category
Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc.
Alpharetta, GA
Ann E. Massey, CEO

Dwight D. Eisenhower Award – R&D
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Pasadena, CA
Felicia Aileen Bell, Manager, Small Business Programs Office

Dwight D. Eisenhower Award – Services
Booz Allen Hamilton
McLean, VA
Linda Asher, Vice President, Financial Services
Lynn Livengood, Manager, Small Business Office

Dwight D. Eisenhower Award – Manufacturing
Oshkosh Defense, LLC
Oshkosh, WI
Bridgette Lorrigan-Schuh, Small Business Liaison Manager
Alyssa Hopfensperger, Small Business Liaison Associate
Travis Schmuhl, Vice President, Global Procurement & Supply Chain

8(a) Graduate of the Year
Prairie Quest Consulting
Fort Wayne, IN
Stacey Smith, CEO

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 makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

Contact: [email protected] 
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Release Number:  19-16  

SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

Related Links

http://www.sba.gov