NEWSRELEASE
For Release: May 29, 2003
Contact: John McDowell (202) 205-6941
john.mcdowell@sba.gov
SBA Number: 03-24 ADVO
Fran Jabara Named National Financial Services Advocate Of The Year
Principal, Jabara Ventures Group, Wichita, Kansas
WASHINGTON, D.C. Mr. Fran Jabara, Principal in Jabara Ventures Group of Wichita, Kan., has been named the National Financial Services Advocate of the Year by the Office of Advocacy of the SBA. He received the award for his outstanding advocacy efforts to increase the usefulness and effectiveness of accounting and financial services for small businesses.
"Fran Jabara has dedicated his life to being an entrepreneurial educator," said Thomas M. Sullivan, Chief Counsel for Advocacy. "From his time as Dean of the College of Business Administration at Wichita State University to founding Venture Kids for minority fifth graders, Mr. Jabara has worked tirelessly to advance small business accounting and financial knowledge. Im proud he is our 2003 Financial Services Advocate of the Year," he said.
Evaluation criteria for the award included assistance given to small businesses in obtaining financing, advocacy of changes in the financial services industry to assist small firms, encouragment the flow of investment capital to small ventures, active support of legislative or regulatory action designed to help small firms, and contributions to the small business accounting or financing industry.
The Office of Advocacy annual awards include Entrepreneurial Success, Financial Services Advocate, Home-Based Business Advocate, Minority Small Business Advocate, Research Advocate, SBA Young Entrepreneur, Small Business Exporter, Small Business Journalist, Veteran Small Business Advocate, and Women in Business Advocate.
National Advocate award winners will be honored during the National Entrepreneurship Conference & Expo, held September 15-20, 2003, in Washington, D.C.
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 a bio of the winner, 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.