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
