Save the Date

April 28 - May 4, 2024

National Small Business Week

What is National Small Business Week (NSBW)

Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners.

More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.

As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from all 50 states and U.S. territories. Every day, they’re working to grow small businesses, create 21st century jobs, drive innovation, and increase America’s global competitiveness.

National Small Business Week SBA Winner's Announced

As part of NSBW, SBA will host the NSBW Virtual Summit, which includes a variety of educational webinars, exhibit booths, free business resources, multiple peer-to-peer networking rooms, and expert business advice from SCORE mentors. The two-day event is free to attend, but registration is required to access it.

NSBW 2024 Winners

Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award:

Aurora-South Metro Small Business Development Center

Aurora, Colorado | Marcia McGilley, Director

The Aurora-South Metro SBDC offers no-cost and confidential one-on-one consulting, low-cost workshops and events, and business resource referrals to entrepreneurs in Arapahoe & Douglas counties in Colorado.

The Aurora-South Metro (SBDC) has been a part of the Colorado SBDC Network since the program began in 1989. The Center covers Arapahoe & Douglas counties and a small part of Adams County. As the city of Aurora is a majority-minority city, the Aurora-South Metro SBDC collaborates with many refugee, immigrant, and underserved communities.

Specifically, the staff have a commitment to fostering growth and resilience for clients, and the team’s dedication and strategic insight have manifested in local economic impact. The Aurora-South Metro SBDC is successful in equipping entrepreneurs in the communities that they serve and makes a difference in the world of small business.

Alaska SBDC

Kali Bennett

The Waterworks Spa and Saunas

State Winner
Small Business Person Of The Year Award

Arizona SBDC

Krisandra Jones

Alpine Drilling and Construction

State Winner
Small Business Person Of The Year Award

Arkansas SBTDC

Lynette West

HealthWear Inc.

State Winner
Small Business Person Of The Year Award

Bill Sabo, Director

University of Arkansas - Fort Smith ASBTDC

District Winner
Small Business Development Center Excellence

Connecticut SBDC

Neviana Zhgaba & Ardian Llomi

Aquila's Nest Vineyards

State Winner
Manufacturer Of The Year

Christopher James DeMartine

Programmatic B2B, LLC

State Winner
Microenterprise of the Year

Ting Luo, President

The Green Teahouse

State Winner
Minority-Owned Business Of The Year

Eric Lopez, Founder & CEO

Arrowhead Leadership Consulting, LLC

Regional Veteran Owned Business of the Year.

State Winner
Veteran-Owned Business Of The Year

Dr. Dori Gatter, Owner/Founder

West Hartford Holistic Counseling

State Winner
Woman-Owned Business Of The Year

Florida SBDC

Janelle Miley

Global Strategies, LLC

State Winner
Minority Business Owner Of The Year

Yanet Herrero

Kings Service Solutions

State Winner
Small Business Person of the Year Award

Naresh Manek

Worldwide Sportswear

District Winner
Minority Business Owner of the Year

George Birnbaum

Gemstone Media Inc.

District Winner
Veteran Business Owner of the Year

Lizbeth Walker

Qwalifize, LLC

District Winner
Woman Business Owner of the Year

University of Georgia SBDC

Felipe Arroyave

Spectrum International

National Winner
Small Business Exporter of the Year

Eric Williams

Unified Defense and Prince Service & Manufacturing

National Finalist
Small Business Person of the Year Award

Kentucky SBDC

Ines M. Rivas-Hutchins

INTEC Group, LLC

National Winner
Small Business Person of the Year Award

Amanda Kelly

Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation

State Winner
Financial Services Advocate of the Year

Michael Frank

Homestretch Mortgage

State Winner
Veteran Small Business of the Year

Asia Latrece Rivers

Talk Childcare to Me, LLC

State Winner
Minority Small Business of the Year

Judith R. Schmidt

JC TEC Industries, Inc.

State Winner
Rural Small Business of the Year

John Batts

Stonewall's Studio, LLC

State Winner
Home-Based Business of the Year

Tomi Jean Clifford

Cynthiana Harrison County Chamber of Commerce

State Winner
Small Business Advocate of the Year

Raquel Carter

Guide Realty

State Winner
Women Owned Small Business of the Year

Massachusetts SBDC

Michael Montemagno

Diamond Antenna and Microwave Corporation

Regional Winner
Exporter of the Year

Callie Mignault

Callie’s Creations

State Winner
Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Mississippi SBDC

Hagen Walker and Anna Barker

Glo ( Vibe, LLC )

State Winner
Small Business Exporter of the Year

John Ruskey

Quapaw Canoe Company

State Winner
Small Business Person of the Year Award

Montana SBDC

Loretta L, Bolyard, PHD

Mountain West Phycological Resources

District Winner
Small Business Person of the Year Award

Linda Heins and Sue Baker

Yarn Bar

District Winner
Woman-Owned Small Business

Karen Grosz

Canvas Creek Teambuilding

District Winner
Small Business Champion

Genia Castro Waller and Aaron Waller

Graphic Finesse

District Winner
Young Entrepreneur-Owned Small Business

Nevada SBDC

Jessica "Jess" and Terrill Trask

Perigo Corner Market

State Winner
Rural Owned Small Business of the Year

New Mexico SBDC

Christopher J. Sweetin

Triskelion Group of New Mexico, Inc.

National Finalist
Small Business Person of the Year Award

New York SBDC

Aneesa Waheed

Tara Kitchen

State Finalist
Small Business Person of the Year Award

North Dakota SBDC

Cherie Harms

Leonardite Products, LLC

State Finalist
Small Business Person of the Year Award

Ohio SBDC

Haltec Corporation

Regional Winner
Small Business Exporter of the Year

Oklahoma SBDC

Frederick Alcazar

Czar Athletics

District Winner
Veteran Small Business of the Year

Pennsylvania SBDC

Bucknell University SBDC, recipient of its 2024 Pennsylvania SBDC Excellence and Innovation Award.

Bucknell University SBDC

State Winner
Small Business Development Center Excellence

Puerto Rico SBTDC

Frances Rovira-Vecchini

Rovira Foods

Regional Winner
Small Business Exporter of the Year

Tennessee SBDC

Craig Charles

Crown Cutz Academy

District Winner
Small Business Person of the Year Award

Northwest Texas SBDC

Penny Miller

Venture HRO LLC; DBA: My HR Department

District Winner
District 2024 Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year

Tyler Patton, Kathleen McNeil, Danny Castro, Natalia Garcia

America's SBDC at University of Texas at Permian Basin

Regional Winner
Small Business Development Center Excellence

George Nester Paige Nester

Creek House Honey Farm

District Winner
Small Business Person of the Year Award

Virginia SBDC

Manisha Morris

MSM Technologies

District Winner
Small Business Person of the Year Award

Washington SBDC

Alex LaLonde and Nick LaLonde

Good Bagels Cafe

District Winner
Seattle District Rural Small Business of the Year

West Virginia SBDC

Jae C Lehew

S&S Fine Diamonds and Jewelry

State Winner
Family-Owned Small Business of the Year

James Merrill

Hasten Services LLC

State Winner
Veteran Small Business Week Small Business Person

Ashley Mason

Charlotte's Café LLC

State Winner
Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year

Lisa Fritsch, Peter Fritsch, Adam Leach & Chet Tobrey

Agile5 Technologies, Inc.

State Winner
Small Business Person of the Year Award

Wisconsin SBDC

Michelle Somes Booher, Heather Ferguson, Stephanie Achten, Christine Gruneberg, Amy Bruner Zimmerman, and Anne Inman

UW-Madison SBDC

Regional Winner
Small Business Development Center Excellence

Eric Rupert, Sam McDaniel, and Jessica Benish

Fortune Favors

State Winner
Small Business Person of the Year Award

Wyoming SBDC

Sam Clikeman

Big Lost Meadery

State Winner
Small Business Exporter of the Year