SBA Announces National Celebration of Small Business Week
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration will honor America’s top entrepreneurs – and name the National Small Business Person of the Year – at national ceremonies in Washington, D.C., during Small Business Week, April 23-24. The two-day celebration will honor the small business accomplishments of individuals and business owners at four major award events.
“The SBA is proud to honor the entrepreneurial spirit of the men and women who have played such a key role in the success of the economy and the prosperity of our nation,” SBA Administrator Steven Preston said. “I am proud to represent an agency that touches so many people’s lives, not only helping them realize their dreams, but doing so in a way that provides jobs, expands our economy, and supports innovation in our country.”
The 2007 Small Business Week will be at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, where more than 100 outstanding small business owners from across the nation will be recognized. A highlight will be announcement of the National Small Business Person of the Year and runners- up, selected from among state winners who represent a diverse cross-section of American business, ranging from a sausage maker and wine café, to a bee keeper and a dog salon.
This year the SBA will present awards to honor a number of individuals and
organizations:
• The National Small Business Person of the Year, selected from the 53 State Small Business Persons for the Year.
• The Champion Awards, recognizing both individuals and organizations for their achievements on behalf of small business, including minority, women and veteran-owned small businesses.
• The Phoenix Awards, recognizing a public official, a business owner and a volunteer whose efforts have enabled their businesses or communities to successfully recover from a disaster.
• Export Lenders of the Year, honoring financial institutions for financing small business exporters.
• The Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Excellence, recognizing large prime contractors that have excelled in their utilization of small businesses as suppliers and subcontractors.
• The Gold Star Award, recognizing exemplary performance of federal staff who manage the aggressive goals and strategic initiatives that help ensure a role for small business in the federal marketplace.
• The Frances Perkins Vanguard Award, honoring government and industry for excellence in the use of women-owned small businesses as prime contractors and subcontractors.
• The Small Business Prime Contractor and Small Business Subcontractor of the Year, honoring small businesses that have provided government and industry with outstanding goods and services as prime or sub contractors.
Every president for 44 years has issued an annual proclamation celebrating Small Business Week. State award winners and recipients of the Champion and other special awards are nominated by local trade associations, chambers of commerce and business organizations. During Small Business Week, award winners will meet with top administration officials, members of Congress and leaders of national business organizations.
This annual celebration honoring the nation’s leading small business entrepreneurs is cosponsored by SCORE, “Counselors to America’s Small Business.” For more information on Small Business Week 2007 events, including award winner bios, visit www.sba.gov/sbw.
Media outlets interested in covering Small Business Week award events may pre-register online at https://www.epsilonregistration.com/er/Registration/SBA07Entry.jsp.
Interviews with SBA spokespersons and award winners can be scheduled prior to Small Business Week.
Schedule of Events – Small Business Week 2007 (Please Note: Press seating is limited at all events and the events schedule is subject to change.
Award winners and their guests only are invited to participate.)
Monday, April 23, 2007
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. National Procurement Awards Luncheon Ronald Reagan International Trade Center, Atrium Hall
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Champions and Lenders Awards Reception U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Reception Room
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Phoenix Awards–Disaster Recovery Award Winners Ronald Reagan International Trade Center, Atrium Hall
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. State Small Business Awards Luncheon–National Small Business Person of the Year, Ronald Reagan International Trade Center, Atrium Hall
Media Contacts: Dennis Byrne, dennis.byrne@sba.gov, Ph: (202) 205-6567
Cecelia Taylor, cecelia.taylor@sba.gov, Ph: (202) 401-3059
Small Business Week 2007 is co sponsored by the following organizations:
SCORE, Sam’s Club, BAE Systems, IBM, and Raytheon.
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s participation in this cosponsored activity does not constitute an express or implied endorsement of any cosponsor’s, donor’s, grantee’s, contractor’s or participant’s opinions, products, or services. All SBA programs and cosponsored programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least 2 weeks in advance, by contacting sbw@sba.gov. Cosponsorship Authorization # 2007.
“The SBA is proud to honor the entrepreneurial spirit of the men and women who have played such a key role in the success of the economy and the prosperity of our nation,” SBA Administrator Steven Preston said. “I am proud to represent an agency that touches so many people’s lives, not only helping them realize their dreams, but doing so in a way that provides jobs, expands our economy, and supports innovation in our country.”
The 2007 Small Business Week will be at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, where more than 100 outstanding small business owners from across the nation will be recognized. A highlight will be announcement of the National Small Business Person of the Year and runners- up, selected from among state winners who represent a diverse cross-section of American business, ranging from a sausage maker and wine café, to a bee keeper and a dog salon.
This year the SBA will present awards to honor a number of individuals and
organizations:
• The National Small Business Person of the Year, selected from the 53 State Small Business Persons for the Year.
• The Champion Awards, recognizing both individuals and organizations for their achievements on behalf of small business, including minority, women and veteran-owned small businesses.
• The Phoenix Awards, recognizing a public official, a business owner and a volunteer whose efforts have enabled their businesses or communities to successfully recover from a disaster.
• Export Lenders of the Year, honoring financial institutions for financing small business exporters.
• The Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Excellence, recognizing large prime contractors that have excelled in their utilization of small businesses as suppliers and subcontractors.
• The Gold Star Award, recognizing exemplary performance of federal staff who manage the aggressive goals and strategic initiatives that help ensure a role for small business in the federal marketplace.
• The Frances Perkins Vanguard Award, honoring government and industry for excellence in the use of women-owned small businesses as prime contractors and subcontractors.
• The Small Business Prime Contractor and Small Business Subcontractor of the Year, honoring small businesses that have provided government and industry with outstanding goods and services as prime or sub contractors.
Every president for 44 years has issued an annual proclamation celebrating Small Business Week. State award winners and recipients of the Champion and other special awards are nominated by local trade associations, chambers of commerce and business organizations. During Small Business Week, award winners will meet with top administration officials, members of Congress and leaders of national business organizations.
This annual celebration honoring the nation’s leading small business entrepreneurs is cosponsored by SCORE, “Counselors to America’s Small Business.” For more information on Small Business Week 2007 events, including award winner bios, visit www.sba.gov/sbw.
Media outlets interested in covering Small Business Week award events may pre-register online at https://www.epsilonregistration.com/er/Registration/SBA07Entry.jsp.
Interviews with SBA spokespersons and award winners can be scheduled prior to Small Business Week.
Schedule of Events – Small Business Week 2007 (Please Note: Press seating is limited at all events and the events schedule is subject to change.
Award winners and their guests only are invited to participate.)
Monday, April 23, 2007
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. National Procurement Awards Luncheon Ronald Reagan International Trade Center, Atrium Hall
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Champions and Lenders Awards Reception U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Reception Room
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Phoenix Awards–Disaster Recovery Award Winners Ronald Reagan International Trade Center, Atrium Hall
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. State Small Business Awards Luncheon–National Small Business Person of the Year, Ronald Reagan International Trade Center, Atrium Hall
Media Contacts: Dennis Byrne, dennis.byrne@sba.gov, Ph: (202) 205-6567
Cecelia Taylor, cecelia.taylor@sba.gov, Ph: (202) 401-3059
Small Business Week 2007 is co sponsored by the following organizations:
SCORE, Sam’s Club, BAE Systems, IBM, and Raytheon.
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s participation in this cosponsored activity does not constitute an express or implied endorsement of any cosponsor’s, donor’s, grantee’s, contractor’s or participant’s opinions, products, or services. All SBA programs and cosponsored programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least 2 weeks in advance, by contacting sbw@sba.gov. Cosponsorship Authorization # 2007.
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