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 outstanding 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.
Twitter Chat: Top Tips and Resources to Become Loan Ready
In celebration of National Small Business Week, Venturize and America’s SBDC held a Twitter chat — “Top Tips and Resources to Become Loan Ready” — on Tuesday, May 7. This chat covered financial planning and business strategy topics that a small business owner needs to understand before seeking financing. The conversation also covered issues like understanding your credit score and its relation to your small business, options for financing if you are unable to secure a bank loan, how to fuel long-term growth, and more.
Thanks to Venturize and all the members of America’s SBDCs who participated!
NSBW Awards
During National Small Business Week, SBA recognizes outstanding partners, entrepreneurs and small business owners from all across the 50 states and U.S. territories. Award categories include awards to SBA Resource Partners; Phoenix Awards for Disaster Recovery; Exporter of the Year; Federal Procurement Awards; and Small Business Persons of the Year.
Meet the National Winners!
★ Florida SBDC at Florida International University – Phoenix Award for Outstanding Small Business Disaster Recovery, Stephanie Vitori, President, Cheeseburger Baby
★ Ohio SBDC at Cleveland State University, Export Assistance – Small Business Exporter of the Year, Jamie Stillman (Founder) and Julie Robbins (CEO), EarthQuaker Devices
★ Iowa SBDC Network – Small Business Persons of the Year (National Finalists, 1st Runners-Up), Brad Barber (CEO) and Angie Barber (COO), Cabin Coffee
★ Ohio SBDC at Youngstown State University – National SBDC Excellence and Innovation Award
To learn more about all the NSBW National Winners, click here.
Small Business Persons of the Year, Jennifer Herbert (CEO) and Jeff Herbert (CSO) of Superstition Meadery, LLC
Clients of the America’s SBDC Arizona Network, Yavapai College SBDC
Phoenix Award for Outstanding Small Business Disaster Recovery, Stephanie Vitori, President, Cheeseburger Baby
Client of the Florida SBDC at Florida International University
Small Business Exporter of the Year, Jamie Stillman (Founder) and Julie Robbins (CEO), EarthQuaker Devices
Client of the Ohio SBDC at Cleveland State University, Export Assistance
District, State & Regional Winners!
America’s SBDC Arizona Network, Yavapai College SBDC – Small Business of the Year (State Winner), Jeffery Lee and Jennifer Lynn Herbert, Owners, Superstition Meadery, LLC
America’s SBDC Arizona Network, Cochise College SBDC – SBDC Excellence and Innovation Award (State Winner)
Connecticut SBDC – Veteran Owned Small Business of the Year (State Winner), Mike Westkamper, President, WEI, Inc.
Connecticut SBDC – Small Business Exporter of the Year (State Winner), Amy Bosco, Sales Executive, Beekley Medical
Florida SBDC at the University of Central Florida – Minority Owned Smal Business Person of the Year (District and State Winner), Courtney Powell, President, Ace Applications, LLC
Florida SBDC at the University of Central Florida – Woman Owned Small Business Person of the Year (District and State Winner), Wendy Romeu, Founder and Owner, Alluvionic
Florida SBDC at the University of South Florida – Veteran Owned Small Business Person of the Year (South Florida District Winner), Donald Williams, CEO, Widescope Consultig and Contracting Services
Florida SBDC at Florida International University – Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year (Region 4 Winner), Jacquin Gilchrist, President and Managing Attorney, The Gilchirst Law Firm
Florida SBDC at Florida International University – Small Business Person of the Year (South Florida District Winner), Jonathan Brinkman, Owner, BlackSky Technologies
Florida SBDC at Florida International University – Exporter of the Year (District and State Winner), Gloria Martinez, Owner, Neo Broadband, Inc.
Florida SBDC at Florida International University – Minority Owned Small Business Person of the Year (South Florida District Winner), Timothy Dunlap, Director, CEPODS, LLC
Florida SBDC at Florida International University – Young Entrepreneur Small Business Person of the Year (District and State Winner), Mari Angeles Rubio, Owner, Casa Gioia
Florida SBDC at Florida International University – Community Partner of the Year (District and State Winner), Accion East of Miami
Florida SBDC at Florida International University – Small Business Advocate of the Year (District and State Winner), Samuel Blatt, Economic Development Manager, City of Miami
Florida SBDC at the University of North Florida – Small Business Person of the Year (District and State Winner), Jeff Turbeville, CEO, Sunshine Peanut Company
Florida SBDC at the University of North Florida – Veteran Owned Small Business Person of the Year (District and State Winner), Frank Brewer, President, Alpha Omega Global, LLC
Florida SBDC at the University of North Florida – Rural Business Owner of the Year (District and State Winner), Dallas Hart, President, Hart 2 Hart Academy, Inc.
Florida SBDC at the University of North Florida – Woman Owned Small Business Person of the Year (North Florida District Winner), Laurie Morgan Lee, President, Elevate Business Law, PA
Florida SBDC at the University of North Florida – Young Entrepreneur of the Year (North Florida District Winner), Brandon Stallings, CEO, SmartBox
Florida SBDC at the University of North Florida – Community Partner of the Year (North Florida District Winner), City of Jacksonville, Small and Emerging Business Program
Illinois SBDC – Rising Star Small Business, Rosemary Swierk, Owner, Direct Steel
Illinois SBDC – Rising Star Small Business, Ruby Madrigal, Owner, K9 University
Illinois SBDC – Family-Owned Small Business of the Year, Deborah Chitty and Danielle Cyvas, Co-Owners, Warm N Cozy Quilting
Illinois SBDC – Small Business Exporter of the Year, Lisa Bitsky, Owner, Automated Design Corp.
Illinois SBDC at the Champaign County Economic Development Corp. – SBDC Excellence & Innovation Award
Massachusetts SBDC Government Sales Program – SBDC Excellence and Innovation Award (State and Region Winner)
Massachusetts SBDC, Central and Western Mass Export Center – Small Business Exporter of the Year (District, State and Region Winner), Optim LLC
Massachusetts PTAC – Veteran Owned Business of the Year (District and State Winner), Robert J. Brown, President, Broco Oil
Massachusetts SBDC Southeast Regional Office – Homebased Business of the Year (District and State Winner), Stephanie Thompson, Owner, Warrior Runners
Massachusetts SBDC Central Mass Regional Office – Young Entrepreneur of the Year (State Winner), Renee King Diaz, President and Owner, The Queen’s Cups
Massachusetts SBDC Berkshire Regional Office – Woman Owned Business of the Year (District and State Winner), Suzanne Merritt, President, Lenox Fit
Massachusetts SBDC, Norteast Mass Regional Center – Minority Owned Business of the Year (District and State Winner), Alma Moreno, Owner, El Huipil
Montana, Billings SBDC – Young Entrepreneur Owned Business of the Year (State Winner), Nicole Griffith, Owner, Well Pared
Montana, Great Falls SBDC – Woman Owned Small Business of the Year (State Winner), Raegen Breeden, Owner, Play N Learn Daycare
Montana, Butte SBDC – Multi-Generation Owned Business of the Year (State Winner), Chris and Corri Barry, Owners, Gruber Excavating Inc.
Nevada SBDC – Nevada Microenterprise of the Year (State Winner), Denette Braud, Owner, The Funnel Cake Cafe
New York SBDC Staten Island – Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Business of the Year (District Winner), David Fazio, President, DeVille Auto Collision, Inc.
New York SBDC at Pace University – SBDC Excellence & Innovation Award (District and Region Winner)
North Carolina SBDTC at Western Carolina University – Small Business Exporter of the Year (State Winner), Jonathan Szucs, President, Advanced Superabrasives, Inc.
Ohio SBDC at Hamilton County – Small Business Person of the Year (State Winner), Kristen Bailey, Owner, Sweets and Meats
Ohio SBDC at Warren County – SBDC Excellence and Innovation Award (Columbus District Winner)
U.S. Virgin Islands – Virgin Islands Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year (State Winner), Christopher Swanson and Jeff Printz, Owners, The Fred Hotel, LLC
Washington SBDC, Spokane – Small Business Exporter of the Year (Region Winner), Coleen Quisenberry, President, FLEXHIBIT
Washington SBDC, Yakima – Rising Startup of the Year (District Winner), Lee and Emily Fergestrom and Johnny Brose, Co-Owners, Fortuity Cellars
West Virginia University Center SBDC – Small Business Person of the Year (District Winner), Michael Mills, Managing Principal, Mills Group
Wisconsin, UW-Parkside SBDC – Emerging Small Business (State Winner), Nicole Centeno, Owner, K9 Kibble LLC
Wisconsin, UW-River Falls SBDC – Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award (State Winner)
District, State & Regional Winners!
Wyoming SBDC Network – Small Business Person of the Year (State Winner), Ryan Gregory, President, Wyoming Roofing, LLC
Wyoming SBDC Network – Spirit of Wyoming Award (State Winner), Dawn Stevenson and Kyleen Stevenson-Braxton, Owners, Fashion Crossroads, Inc.
Wyoming SBDC Network – 8(a) Graduate of the Year (State & Region Winner), Stacy and Devin Bair, Owners, Bairco Construction, Inc.
A free, online conference to listen to practiced advice on current business strategies, meet other business owners, and chat with industry experts! The Virtual Conference offered all the best parts of an in-person conference, but without the hassle of traveling. Learn more.
Friday to Sunday, May 3 to 5, Washington, D.C. SBA and Visa invited members of the public to bring their ideas and laptops to spend a weekend solving real business challenges as part of the kickoff of the National Small Business Week 2019.