
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.
NSBW is April 30 - May 6, 2023. Nominations for 2023 awards are open until Dec. 8, 2022.
2022 NSBW Award Winners

State
Small Business Development Service Excellence and Innovation Award
Louisiana Small Business Development Center
Jimmy Nguyen, Associate Director
Heidi Melancon, Regional Director
Thibodaux, Louisiana

State
Small Business Person of the Year Award
Missouri SBDC
Jennifer Garrett-Hart – Hartline Construction
Kansas City, Missouri

State
Small Business Person of the Year Award
San Diego & Imperial SBDC Network
Hernán Luis y Prado – VetPowered
California: San Diego & Imperial

State
Small Business Person of the Year Award
Illinois SBDC Network
Chris and Mary Ginder – Gindo’s Spice of Life
Elgin, Illinois

State
Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award
Texas Gulf Coast SBDC Network
Jim Pillans – Brazos Valley SBDC
Texas: Gulf Coast

State
Small Business Person of the Year
Kevin and Angie Shaw – Brightways Counseling Group, LLC
Redmond, Oregon

State
Director’s Award for Excellence
Ryan Wines – Marmoset LLC
Portland, Oregon

State
SBDC Award for Excellence & Innovation Center Award
Klamath Community College & Small Business Development Center
Klamath Falls, Oregon

State (Region10)
Small Business Subcontractor of the Year
Native American Technology Corporation (NATECH)
North Bend, Oregon

Regional
Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award
Ohio SBDC
Jill Badger, CBA, MBA – Toledo SBDC at Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce
Ohio

National
Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award
Kentucky SBDC
David Oetken, Anne Shadle, Rhonda Jones, Janet Flaugh – Kentucky SBDC
Louisville, Kentucky

State
Small Business Person of the Year Award
Kentucky SBDC
Alejandro Ramirez – Universal Spartan, LLC
Kentucky

District
Women in Business Champion
Hawaii SBDC
Brianna Greer – LEI of Kauai
Lihue, Hawai’i

District
Women in Business Champion
Hawaii SBDC
Aesha Shapiro – Ladies Artisan Market
Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi

District
Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award
Wisconsin SBDC
Tara Carr – SBDC at UW-Green Bay
Wisconsin

State
Small Business Exporter of the Year
Kentucky SBDC
Yong Qin (Angie) Yu – Two Rivers Fisheries, Inc.
Kentucky

State
Minority Owned Business of the Year
Britany Vinson
Texas: Gulf Coast

State
Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year
Latanyua Robinson, President & Founder – Latrobe, LLC
Arkansas

State
Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year
Beverly Smith, President – Career Staffing Services, Inc.
Arkansas

State
Small Business Person of the Year Award
Clarion University Small Business Development Center
John Martincic – Forest Scientific Corporation
Pennsylvania

State
Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award
Lehigh University Small Business Development
Brett D. Smith – Lehigh University Small Business Development Center
Pennsylvania

State
Minority Small Business Champion of the Year
Staten Island, NY
Elina Lecour – Lecour Law, P.C.
New York

State
Small Business Person of the Year Award
Arkansas SBTDC
Jaim Krutz – Big Cuppa
Arkansas

Regional
Minority Owned Business of the Year
Widener University Small Business Development Center
Cofounders Dr. Guofang Wang and Dr. Xiaobin Li – Everest Medical Care Group LLC
Pennsylvania

Regional
Small Business Person of the Year Award
The University of Scranton SBDC
Jordan Galasso – Fit AF Nutrition
Pennsylvania

Regional
Eastern Pennsylvania District Family-Owned Small Business of the Year
Bucknell University Small Business Development Center
Keith D. Foust and Seth A. Foust, Owners – Susquehanna Fire Equipment Company, Inc. Nutrition
Pennsylvania

Regional
Eastern Pennsylvania District Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Wilkes University Small Business Development Center
Jordan Kotowski – Abe’s Hot Dogs
Pennsylvania

State
Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award
Arkansas SBTDC
Mary Beth Brooks – University of Arkansas, Fayetteville ASBTDC
Arkansas

State
Small Business Person of the Year Award
South Carolina SBDC
Ann Son – Holy City Linen Services
South Carolina

State
Small Business Person of the Year Award
UGA SBDC
Ardina Pierre – Nature’s Own Herb Shop
Georgia

State
Small Business Person of the Year Award
Florida SBDC Network
Dennis Chan – Blue Bamboo Canton and Bistro
Florida

State
Small Business Exporter of the Year
Florida SBDC Network
Viv Helwig – Vested Metals International LLC
Florida

State
Minority Owned Business of the Year
Florida SBDC Network
Indira Vega – Indy Interpreting Inc. DBA CCI Group
Florida

State
Woman-Owned Small Business Person of the Year
Florida SBDC Network
Wanda Barton – Xtremely Clean Janitorial Services, LLC
Florida

State
Family-Owned Small Business of the Year
Oklahoma SBDC
Heather Watson & Chad Donoley – Arkansas Oklahoma Railroad
Oklahoma

State
Small Business Person of the Year
Rhode Island SBDC
Byron Delmonico – The Riddle Room
Rhode Island

State
Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year
Rhode Island SBDC
Javier Brown – O2J, Inc.
Rhode Island

District
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Georgia SBDC
Destiny Brewton – A House Called Hue
Georgia

District
SBDC Excellence and Innovation Center Award
Georgia SBDC
UGA Small Business Development Center in Gwinnett – UGA Small Business Development Center in Gwinnett
Georgia

State
Minority Small Business Champion
Mississippi SBDC
Nelson Haskin Jr. – JR Forty LLC
Mississippi

State
Women Small Business Champion
Mississippi SBDC
Lisa Cochran – The Studio, LLC
Mississippi

State
Small Business Person of the Year
Wyoming SBDC
Lena Dirck – The Aspen House Restaurant
Wyoming

State
SBA Small Business of the Year
Nebraska SBDC
Taylor Korensky – Appsky
Nebraska

State and Regional
SBA Exporter of Year
Idaho SBDC
Blake Isaacs – Idaho Hydro Tech
Idaho

State
SBDC Service Center Excellence
Massachusetts SBDC
Massachusetts Small Business Development Center’s Government Sales Advisory Program
Massachusetts

State
Family Owned Business
Massachusetts SBDC
Euro-American Worldwide Logistics
Massachusetts

State
Financial Champion of the Year
Massachusetts SBDC
Kathleen Kelly – Webster Bank
Massachusetts

Regional
New England Prime Contractor
Massachusetts SBDC
U.S. Eco Products Corporation
Massachusetts

National
Boots to Business Instructor of the Year
Great Falls SBDC
Jason Nitschke
Montana

State
Women-Owned Business Person of the Year
Indiana SBDC
Sany Young – Verdis
Indiana