Yesterday, Maria Contreras-Sweet, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), announced 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. A panel is currently reviewing all the packages and a national winner and two runners-up will be selected and announced at a future date. The national winner will be recognized as the 2015 National Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration this year in Washington, D.C., May 8.
For West Virginia, Jeannette Lee King, president and CEO of Strategic Resolution Experts, Inc. was selected as the winner.
“It is my pleasure and honor to announce the 54 winners. Competition was extremely keen across the nation for these prestigious awards. I couldn’t be any prouder than recognizing these outstanding entrepreneurs and small business owners, they represent the backbone of our economy. Small businesses created nearly 2 million of the roughly 3 million private-sector jobs generated in 2014. More than 7 million of the 11 million jobs created during our recovery have been generated by startups and small enterprises,” said Contreras-Sweet.
“This year’s competition was a tough one with so many worthy competitors,” said SBA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Natalia Olson Urtecho, who administers to small businesses in West Virginia. “I am proud of all of our small businesses, and consider them all winners as they continue to strengthen our economy and their communities.”
Each year since 1963, the president has issued a proclamation calling for the celebration of National Small Business Week. This year National Small Business Week will be recognized from May 4-8 with national events planned in Miami, Los Angeles, San Antonio, New York and Washington, D.C.
SBA’s West Virginia District Office celebrates their winners during an awards luncheon at the Canaan Valley State Park & Conference Center in Davis, Wednesday, May 27 at noon during the 25th Annual Teaming to Win Conference. The awards luncheon is emceed by Secretary of State Natalie Tennant. Click here for a list of the 2015 West Virginia District Small Business Week winners.
2015 Small Business Person of the Year Winners
ALABAMA
Donna Coleman
CEO/President
Aetos Systems, Inc.
ALASKA
Renee L. Schofield
CEO
TSS, Inc.
ARIZONA
Michael T. Melton
President/Owner
ClearCall Solutions LLC
ARKANSAS
Joel T. Johnson
President
P.I. Roofing
CALIFORNIA
Brian L. Milholland
President
Milholland Electric, Inc.
COLORADO
Teresa L. Porter
President & CEO
ISYS Technologies
CONNECTICUT
Michael Smulders
President
Garden of Light, Inc.
Dba Bakery on Main
DELAWARE
Joseph B. Winemiller
President
Greenleaf Services, Inc.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Necole Parker
CEO & Founder
The ELOCEN Group LLC
FLORIDA
Carol M. Craig
Founder and CEO
Craig Technologies
GEORGIA
Scott Soesbee
CEO/Founder
FlameOff Coatings, Inc.
GUAM
Francis Kenney
Co-Owner/Executive
Timothy Murphy
Co-Owner/Operations
Jamaico, Inc.
Dba Jamaican Grill
HAWAII
Russell Ruderman
President
Island Naturals Market, Inc; Island Naturals Kona, Inc. and Island Naturals Pahoa, Inc.
IDAHO
Patrick Nauman
Owner
Weiser Classic Candy
ILLINOIS
John H. Griffin Jr.
President/CEO
AGB Investigative Services, Inc.
INDIANA
Christopher Shane Conner
Owner/President
Advanced Technologies in Electrical
& Communications, Inc.
IOWA
Deb David
CEO
Sisters Homestyle Entrees
KANSAS
Philip M. Brokenicky
President/CEO
New Horizons RV Corporation
KENTUCKY
Scott L. Shinn
President/CEO
Sustainment Solutions, Inc.
LOUISIANA
Todd Matherne
CEO, Publisher
Renaissance Publishing
MAINE
Heidi V. Neal
Owner
Loyal Biscuit Co.
MARYLAND
Sophia Parker
CEO
DS Federal, Inc.
MASSACHUSETTS
Todd Snopkowski
Founder and President
Snapchef Culinary Training and Staffing
MICHIGAN
Pat LeBlanc
Chairman
EBW Electronics, Inc.
MINNESOTA
James F. Kruse
Co-Owner/Visionary
Melissa M. Kelley
Co-Owner/General Manager
J.F. Kruse Jewelers
MISSISSIPPI
Willie A. O’Neal Jr.
Derek Starling Sr.
Principals
SOL Engineering Services LLC
MISSOURI
Alan R. Doan
President
Sarah B. Galbraith
Board Director
Missouri Star Quilt Company, Inc.
MONTANA
Rich Naylor
Founder and President
My Handyman Service & Construction, Inc.
NEBRASKA
Scott Mueller
President/CEO
Samson LLC
NEVADA
Chad McCullough
President
Elite Media, Inc.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Scott Johnson
President/CEO
SOS Parts LLC
Dba Certified Retail Solutions
NEW JERSEY
Michael Miqueli
President/CEO
San Antonio Broker Services, Inc.
NEW MEXICO
Richard Jackson
CEO/Founder
American Document Services LLC
NEW YORK
Charles Feit
CEO
OnForce Solar, Inc.
NORTH CAROLINA
Jeff B. Slosman
President
National Wiper Alliance
NORTH DAKOTA
Paula Klein
Owner – Project Champion
Smartt Interior Construction LLC
OHIO
Matt Fish
Owner/President
Melt Bar and Grilled, Inc.
OKLAHOMA
Brett Bain
President/Co-Founder
Brian Edwards
President/Co-Founder
FairWind LLC
OREGON
Robert W. Powell
President/Owner
Fab-Tech Manufacturing, Inc.
PENNSYLVANIA
Joseph G. Zidik
President and CEO
Custom Milling & Consulting, Inc. (CMC)
PUERTO RICO
Frank Medina-Rivera
President & CEO
Vita Natura
RHODE ISLAND
Christopher Ciunci
CEO
TribalVision LLC
SOUTH CAROLINA
Melissa Allen Gladden
President
Carolina Recruitment LLC
SOUTH DAKOTA
Sean M. Coffman
Owner/CEO
Carsforsale.com, Inc.
TENNESSEE
Dr. Edward S. Glaser
Founder & CEO
Sole Supports, Inc.
TEXAS
David F. Shutler
President & CEO
Utility Systems Solutions, Inc.
UTAH
Cory R. Robison
CEO/Manager
Stonehenge Care
VERMONT
Monica A. Greene
President & CEO
Vermont Precision Tools
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Linda Bailey
Owner
Soul Creations, Inc.
VIRGINIA
Paul T. Patterson
CEO
Generation Solutions Holdings, Inc.
WASHINGTON
Lori J. Blades
President/Founder
Kids ‘N Us Early Learning Academy
WEST VIRGINIA
Jeannette Lee King
President & CEO
Strategic Resolution Experts, Inc.
WISCONSIN
Daniel Sidner
Owner
Joseph Muench
Chef/Owner
Black Shoe Hospitality
WYOMING
Jack Bedessem
President/CEO
Keith Marcott
Executive Vice President
Craig Carlson
Vice President
Trihydro Corporation
