WASHINGTON, March 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Administrator Linda McMahon, the head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, announced today this year’s Small Business Person of the Year winners from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. All of the winners have been invited to attend ceremonies in Washington, D.C on April 30 – May 1 where they will be honored with their individual award along with recognition of the three runners-up and the naming of the 2017 National Small Business Person of the Year.

“It is my honor and distinct pleasure to announce the 54 winners from across the U.S. and its territories,” McMahon said. “These small business owners define entrepreneurial spirit and best represent the 28 million small businesses that are the backbone and economic engine for today’s economy. I look forward to welcoming the winners to Washington next month when they are officially honored for their achievements.”
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.
2017 Small Business Person of the Year Winners
ALABAMA
Jodie Ray Stanfield
Owner
Local Joe’s Trading Post
Rainbow City, AL 35906
ALASKA
David McCarthy
CEO
Jason Motyka
CFO
Denali Visions 3000
Denali Park, AK 99755
ARIZONA
Vickie Herd
Manager
Extended Family Disability Services, LLC/Bella Rose
Chandler, AZ 85286
ARKANSAS
Victoria A. Washington
President
Vision Information Technology Consultants LLC
Little Rock, AR 72204
CALIFORNIA
Lars Christopher Herman
President
Herman Construction Group, Inc.
Escondido, CA 92029
COLORADO
Lorena P. Cantarovici
Owner
Maria Empanada
Denver, CO 80210
CONNECTICUT
Carla Bartolucci
President
Euro-USA Trading Co., Inc.
North Stonington, CT 06359
DELAWARE
Donna L. Vanderwende
Owner
Vanderwende Farm Creamery
Bridgeville, DE 19933
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Robert W. Dozier Jr.
President & CEO
RWD Consulting, LLC
Washington, DC 20036
FLORIDA
Paul Morrow
President
South Dave Air Conditioning and
Refrigeration
Homestead, FL 33033
GEORGIA
Kevin B. Boykin
CEO
Path-Tec, LLC
Midland, GA 31820
GUAM
Derrick Muna Quinata
CEO/Dealer Principal
Monster Auto Corp.
Dba Guam Autospot
Hagatna, Guam 96932
HAWAII
Garrett Marrero
President & CEO
Melanie Oxley
Vice President & COO
Maui Brewing Company
Kihei, HI 96753
IDAHO
Eric L. Browning
CEO, Owner and Manager
Steven J. Browning
CFO, Co-Owner
Blue Spring Partners, LLC
Dba Fin Fun
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
ILLINOIS
Sonat Birnecker Hart
President
Robert Birnecker
CEO
Koval, Inc.
Dba Koval Distillery, Inc.
Chicago, IL 60613
INDIANA
Joey Rivera, Ph.D.
President & CEO
Rivera Consulting Group
A Highway 311
Sellersburg, IN 47172
IOWA
Benny Duane Puck
President
Puck Custom Enterprises, Inc.
Manning, IA 51455
KANSAS
Ken Bellesine
Owner
Central Electropolishing Co., Inc.
Anthony, KS 67003
KENTUCKY
Debra Dudley
President
Oscarware, Inc.
Bonnieville, KY 42713
LOUISIANA
Alejandro (Alex) Hernandez
President
Hernandez Consulting & Construction
New Orleans, LA 70119
MAINE
Leigh S. Kellis
Founder/Owner
The Holy Donut
Portland, ME 04101
MARYLAND
Kara DiPietro
CEO
HMC Incorporated
Columbia, MD 21046
MASSACHUSETTS
Victoria Bondoc
President & CEO
Gemini Industries, Inc.
Burlington, MA 01803
MICHIGAN
Jon Lanning
President, Finance
Inontime, LLC
Zeeland, MI 49464
MINNESOTA
Shirley Joann Wikner
CEO
Aviation Charter and Executive Aviation
Eden Prairie, MN 55347
MISSISSIPPI
Mary J. Russell
President and Founder
Sugaree’s Bakery
New Albany, MS 38652
MISSOURI
Phillip Cohen
Founder and President
Cohen Architectural Woodworking
Saint James, MO 65559
MONTANA
Mark Bretz
CEO and Chairman of the Board
Bretz RV and Marine
Missoula, MT 59808
NEBRASKA
Cody C. Brooks
Owner
Chrystal Brooks
Co-Owner
White River Feed, LLC
Chadron, NE 69337
NEVADA
Dr. Eva D. Littman
Owner
Littman Medical Services, PC
dba Red Rock Fertility
Sunset Surgery Center, LLC
Las Vegas, NV 89148
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Jake Reder
CEO
Celdara Medical, LLC
Lebanon, NH 03766
NEW JERSEY
Dr. Lisa Aumiller
Dr. Lisa Aumiller, LLC
Dba HousePaws Mobile Veterinary Service
Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
NEW MEXICO
Mario Burgos
President & CEO
David Burgos
Vice President
Burgos Group LLC
Albuquerque, NM 87114
NEW YORK
Pamela Newman
CEO
ISS Action
Queens, NY 11434
NORTH CAROLINA
Michelle Coffino
Owner
Queen City Metal Recycling & Salvage, LLC
2800 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28206
NORTH DAKOTA
Eric Mauch
CEO
Carla Dean Schwartzenberger
Razor Consulting Solutions, Inc.
& Razor Tracking, Inc.
Watford City, ND 58854
OHIO
Robert Chapman Kocian
President
The Auto Bolt Company
Cleveland, OH 44135
OKLAHOMA
Melinda Stinnett
Managing Director
Stinnett & Associates
Tulsa, OK 74137
OREGON
Brandon James Vaughn
President
All-Clean Property Maintenance LLC
Troutdale, OR 97060
PENNSYLVANIA
Elvin Eugene Stoltzfus
President
Pik Rite, Inc.
Lewisburg, PA 17837
PUERTO RICO
Victor Miguel Rivera Solanas
President
Maria Paula Rivera Solanas
Vice President
Atencion Atencion
San Juan, PR 00926
RHODE ISLAND
Gary M. Palardy
President and CEO
Blue Moon Industries
Providence, RI 02908
SOUTH CAROLINA
Vickie Wyatt
President
J.I.T. Manufacturing
Cowpens, SC 29330
SOUTH DAKOTA
Beth Hanna
Owner/Director
Building Blocks Childcare and Learning Center, LLC
Brandon, SD 57005
TENNESSEE
Dan LeVan
CEO
SED, Inc.
Dba EnerG3
Chattanooga, TN 37405
TEXAS
Deborah Paris
President and Manager
StraCon Services Group, LLC
Fort Worth, TX 76109
UTAH
Stefanie Bevans
CEO
Joshua Bevans
CTO
Design To Print, Inc.
St. George, UT 84770
VERMONT
Michael Lawrence Rainville
President
Maple Landmark, Inc.
Middlebury, VT 05753
VIRGINIA
Corliss Udoema
President & CEO
Contract Solutions, Inc.
Manassas, VA 20109
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Kevin Joseph Schnell
Owner/Operator
Maya Alissa Matthews-Sterling
Owner/Manager
Caribbean Solar Company LLC
St. John, VI 00830
WASHINGTON
Rozanne Garman
President
RHD Enterprises, Inc.
Lacey, WA 98503
WEST VIRGINIA
Matthew Paul Knott
President & CEO
River Riders, Inc. and Clarion Inn Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
WISCONSIN
Kristina Pence-Dunow
President & CEO
Double K, Inc.,
Dba Hometown Trolley, Inc.
Crandon, WI 54520
WYOMING
Janie Celeste Wait
President
Intermountain Record Center, Inc.
3765 Airport Parkway
Casper, WY 82604
About the 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
Release Number: 17-12
Contact: Terry Sutherland 202-205-6919
Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sba-administrator-honors-nations-top-small-businesses-300424858.html
SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration
Comments Sought: Proposed Rule To Establish Government-Wide Mentor-Protégé Program
February 11, 2015By Sean Milani-Nia
On February 5, 2015, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a new proposed rule that would establish a Government-wide mentor-protégé program for all small businesses.
Under the current framework, entities that enter into joint venture agreements to perform federal contracts are, in most instances, considered “affiliates.” In determining a company’s eligibility to compete for set-aside procurements, the SBA combines the offeror’s size with the size of its affiliated entities. Thus, an otherwise eligible small business may be deemed large due to its affiliation with another entity.
An exception to this general rule exists for participants in the SBA’s 8(a) mentor-protégé program. Under the 8(a) mentor-protégé program, an 8(a) protégé can joint venture with an approved large business mentor without being deemed affiliated.
The SBA’s proposed rule seeks to extend the mentor-protégé program to all small businesses. The intent is to create parallel program for non-8(a) small businesses, including participants in the HUBZone, Women-Owned Small Business, and Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business programs, that is identical to the 8(a) mentor-protégé program. Under the proposed rule, any small business would be able to enter into an SBA approved mentor-protégé relationship and joint venture with its approved mentor without being considered affiliated.
Expanded Protégé Definition
Note that the proposed rule would allow more businesses to qualify as protégés under both the 8(a) mentor-protégé program and the proposed small business mentor-protégé program. Currently, in order to qualify as a protégé under the current 8(a) mentor-protégé program, an 8(a) contractor must (1) have a size that is less than half the size standard corresponding to its primary NAICS code; (2) be in the developmental stage of its 8(a) program participation; or (3) have not received an 8(a) contract.
The proposed rule provides that any firm that qualifies as a small business for the size standard corresponding to its primary NAICS code would qualify as a protégé under either the small business mentor-protégé program or the 8(a) mentor protégé program. SBA proposes to remove the requirement that the small business protégé have a size less than half the size standard corresponding to its primary NAICS code.
Ownership Interest
Similar to the 8(a) mentor-protégé program, the proposed rule provides that a mentor may own an equity interest of up to 40% in the protégé. This could be a significant opportunity for small businesses that are looking to increase working capital.
If finalized in the current form, the proposed rule would create significant opportunities for the participants in the new mentor-protégé program, but could place those small contractors that do not participate at a competitive disadvantage. Contractors who are interested in participating should begin evaluating potential partners and even structuring their agreements. The SBA has recognized that once the proposed rule is finalized, the number of firms seeking SBA approval of their mentor protégé agreements may become “unwieldy.” SBA states that it may institute certain open and closed periods for receipt of mentor-protégé applications. SBA would only accept mentor-protégé applications in open periods. Contractors should be prepared to submit their applications as soon as possible to avoid missing the first open period.
Comments on the proposed rule are due on April 6, 2015. Send your comments prior to April 6 to Federal Allies Institute Comments@FederalAllies.org 571-217-0823.