Thomas H. Koopmeiners, Small Business Program Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has been named the Minnesota Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year for the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The Veterans Small Business Champion Award is presented annually in each state to individuals who have fulfilled a commitment to advancing small business opportunities for Veterans of the U.S. armed forces. Sherri Komrosky, Program Director of the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), nominated Tom for this award.

Koopmeiners has been the Saint Paul District’s small business program manager since 2002 and a Corps’ employee since 1998, when he started as a contracting officer. As the small business program manager, Koopmeiners assists small businesses in obtaining government contracts.

Under Koopmeiners management, the district exceeded its small business goals for two years in a row, as well as ranked third in the nation, Corps-wide for overall success. Additionally, Koopmeiners provides guidance and formal instruction to other small business program mangers throughout the Corps.

“Tom demonstrated personal commitment and dedication by implementing strategic business initiatives throughout the region and providing the visibility, outreach, training and counseling necessary for the small business program to succeed,” said the Saint Paul District Commander, Col. Jon Christensen.