SAN ANTONIO DISTRICT OFFICE HONORS SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS
Center Network, is proud to announce the 2008 small business and champion award winners to be honored at the upcoming Small Business Week Awards Luncheon to be held on May 15, 2008, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Norris Conference Center, Red Oak Ballroom-Salon A, Crossroads Mall, 4522 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio, TX, 78201.
Every year since 1963, every President of the United States has declared National Small Business Week to formally recognize the important role and contribution of America’s small businesses. National and local events recognize top entrepreneurs for their achievements to include those individuals and organizations who champion small business. Special presentations are also given to SBA Resource Partners and community organizations for their outstanding efforts in business and entrepreneurial development.
This year, April 21-25, 2008 was designated as the official week in celebration of National Small Business Week, with three event-filled days in Washington, D.C. recognizing more than 100 outstanding business owners from across the country. On April 24, Small Business Week moved to New York where SBA participated in the closing bell ceremony at NASDAQ to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Women’s Business Center Program.
Each year, individuals, local trade associations, chambers of commerce, and business organizations submit nomination packages at the SBA district office level for the various small
business, champion, and entrepreneurial categories. Winners in the small business categories are
chosen by a panel of judges based on the nominee’s record of business stability, growth in employment, sales increase, financial performance, business innovation, response to adversity, and contributions to the community. Champions of small business are chosen based on their advocacy efforts to support home-based entrepreneurship and increase financial services. District award winners automatically compete at the State/Region level, and winners at this level are considered for the respective national award categories. The San Antonio District Office winners are considered for the State of Texas and Region VI awards. Region VI encompasses the states of Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. This year, two San Antonio District Office winners were selected for the State of Texas and Region VI award categories, respectivley: Small Business Person of the Year (Team) are Jesus and Maria Luisa Mendoza, owners of Mr. Natural, Inc. located in Austin, TX; and Home-based Business Champion of the Year B. is Lou Guckian, writer and owner of d/b/a FishHook.
This year, the SBA incorporated a new award category, The Small Business Development Center Service Excellence & Innovation Award. This award honors the SBDC Service Centers for their innovation and excellence in assistance to entrepreneurs and small business owners by providing a wide variety of information and guidance. The recipient of this award is the University of Texas at San Antonio Small Business Development Center.
In addition to the Small Business Week winners, District Director Sapia will also recognize SCORE counselors from both the San Antonio and Austin chapters for all their hard work and dedication to the small business community; Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union for its commitment to the SBA Patriot Express Loan Program; and to the District Director’s Alliance Award to the City of Austin Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services & Small Business Development Program Office for its support of SBA, as well as significant and recognizable advocacy outreach to the small business community.
District Director Pamela Sapia is proud to announce all of the San Antonio District Office 2008 Small Business Week winners:
SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR (Team)
District and State of Texas Winner
Jesus & Marie Luisa Mendoza
Mr. Natural, Inc., Austin, Texas
HOME-BASED BUSINESS CHAMPION OF THE YEAR
District and Region VI Winner
B. Lou Guckian
d/b/a FishHook, San Antonio, Texas
SMALL BUSINESS EXPORTER OF THE YEAR
District Winner
John Kenemore
Battery Concepts International, San Antonio, Texas
FINANCIAL SERVICES CHAMPION OF THE YEAR
District Winner
Yvonne Fernandez
Security Services Federal Credit Union, San Antonio, Texas
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER SERVICE EXCELLENCE
& INNOVATION AWARD
University of Texas at San Antonio Small Business Development Center
SCORE COUNSELORS OF THE YEAR
Jean C. Riley
San Antonio SCORE Chapter #164
Alex Cantu
Austin SCORE Chapter #249
SAN ANTONIO DISTRICT PATRIOT EXPRESS COMMITMENT AWARD
Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union
SAN ANTONIO DISTRICT DIRECTOR’S ALLIANCE AWARD
City of Austin Economic Growth & Redevelopment Services Office & Small Business Development Program
South-West Texas Border Small Business SBDC Network Regional Director Al Salgado will recognize a counselor from the SBDC network for the counselor’s outstanding work and outreach to the small business community
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER STATE STAR COUNSELOR
OF THE YEAR
Mark Winchester
University of Texas Pan American Small Business Development Center
Edinburg, Texas
