NEWSRELEASE
For Release: May 29, 2003
Contact: John McDowell (202) 205-6941
john.mcdowell@sba.gov
SBA Number: 03-34 ADVO
Small Business Advocates Of The Year Named
From Diverse Backgrounds, Industries, Geographic Areas
WASHINGTON Ten small business owners from across American have received national awards from the Office of Advocacy of the SBA. The seven Advocates of the Year were selected for their outstanding advocacy efforts to improve the climate for small business. Three special award winners include Small Business Exporter, SBA Young Entrepreneur, and the Entrepreneurial Success winner.
"The Advocate of the Year award winners showcase the vital importance of small business to America," said Thomas M. Sullivan, Chief Counsel for Advocacy. "These remarkable individuals are advocates by example, promoting the value of entrepreneurship in their communities. Im proud that we can honor them in some small way," he continued.
The ten award winners come from diverse backgrounds and represent a wide range of industries and geographic areas. The 2003 Advocates of the Year and special award winners are:
AWARD | WINNER | LOCATION | DESCRIPTION |
Advocates of the Year | |||
Financial Services Advocate | Mr.
Fran Jabara Principal Jabara Ventures Group |
Wichita, KS | Outstanding advocacy efforts to increase the usefulness and effectiveness of accounting and financial services for small businesses. |
Home-Based Business Advocate | Mr.
Christopher Hansen Owner Home-Based Business Council |
Neptune City, NJ | Outstanding advocacy efforts on behalf of home-based businesses |
Minority Small Business Advocate | Mr.
Stephen Mee Program Manager Cerro Grande National Labratory |
Los Alamos, NM | Outstanding advocacy efforts on behalf of minority-owned small businesses |
Research Advocate | Dr.
Robert Brockhaus Director Jefferson Smurfit Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, St. Louis University |
St. Louis, MO | Outstanding contributions to small business research |
Small Business Journalist Advocate | Mr.
Jeff Feingold Editor New Hampshire Business Review |
Manchester, NH | Outstanding journalistic efforts on behalf of small business |
Veteran Small Business Advocate | Mr.
Dennis DeMolet President DeMolet Consulting |
Kettering,. OH | Outstanding advocacy efforts on behalf of veteran-owned small businesses |
Women
in Business Advocate |
Diane
Browning President Appalachian By Design |
Lewisburg, WV | Outstanding advocacy efforts on behalf of women-owned small business |
Special Awards | |||
Entrepreneurial Success | Mrs.
Himanshu "Sue" Bhatia Chief Executive Officer Rose International |
Chesterfield, MO | Owning a business that started small and with the help of the SBA has grown large. |
SBA Young Entrepreneur | Mr.
Scott Jones Owner Beyond Clothing |
Eugene, OR | Business success while under 30 years old |
Small Business Exporter | Mr.
William Wilson President Wilson Forest Products |
Jefferson, PA | Exporting and advocacy efforts on behalf of small business exporters |
National Advocate award winners will be honored during the National Entrepreneurship Conference & Expo, held September 15-20, 2003 in Washington, D.C. For more information on this event, visit www.sba.gov/50/anniversaryevents.html. Biographical sketches on each of the Advocacy winners are located at www.sba.gov/advo.
The Office of Advocacy examines the role and status of small business in the economy and independently represents the views of small business to Congress and the President. It is the source for small business statistics presented in user-friendly formats and it funds research into small business issues. For more information and bios of the winners, visit the Office of Advocacy website at www.sba.gov/advo.
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Created by Congress in 1976, the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent voice for small business within the federal government. Appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy directs the office. The Chief Counsel advances the views, concerns, and interests of small business before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, federal courts, and state policy makers. Economic research, policy analyses, and small business outreach help identify issues of concern. Regional Advocates and an office in Washington, DC, support the Chief Counsels efforts. For more information on the Office of Advocacy, visit www.sba.gov/advo, or call (202) 205-6533.