WASHINGTON - Twelve Hispanic-owned businesses will be honored during National Small Business Week, which highlights the growing role of minority-owned enterprises in the nation’s economic recovery.
National Small Business Week is an annual event hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration to recognize the success and contributions of the top small businesses nationwide. This year, the event will be held May 23-25, at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, D.C.
“Job creation is the number one priority for our nation’s economic recovery. Hispanic-owned small businesses are making important contributions to the U.S. economy by helping their communities and creating jobs, and they deserve our recognition,” said SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills. “In this country we believe hard work leads to success, no matter where you come from. These small businesses prove this belief.”
According to the Census Bureau, in the United Sates there are more than 1.6 million Hispanic-owned businesses; they employ more than 1.5 million people and generate more than $220 billion in gross receipts.
The Hispanic award winners at National Small Business Week are:
Minority Champion Award - Eddie Reyes, HUB Coordinator, University of North Texas
State Small Business Person of the Year, Colorado - Antonio Colón, CEO, Combat Training Solutions, Inc.
State Small Business Person of the Year, Illinois – Warner Cruz, President, J.C. Restoration, Inc.
State Small Business of the Year, New Jersey – Rafael Collado, CEO and Co-founder, Phacil, Inc. (COO and Co-founder, Sasha Mornell)
State Small Business Person of the Year, New Mexico – Tamara Marquez Nugent, President, Moving Solutions, Inc.
State Small Business of the Year, Puerto Rico – Juan E, Diaz, President, Tile International Corporation.
State Small Business of the Year, Texas – Mary Ellen Trevino, Founder and CEO P3S Corporation.
State Small Business of the Year, Virginia – John Fernandez, CEO, Daystar Desserts, LLC.
Regional Prime Contractor, Region VI (Texas) – Yolanda Diaz, President, Mirador Enterprises, Inc.
Regional Prime Contractor, Region VIII (Colorado) – Deann Bennett-Alvarado, President, Bennett-Alvarado, Inc.
Women’s Business Center of Excellence Award – Anthony Urquidez, Regional Manager (WBC Director) Women’s Economic Self-Sufficiency Team Roswell, Roswell, NM.
Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery by a Volunteer, Pago Pago, American Samoa - Elda Najera-Suisala, Executive Director, Center for Families of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities.
For additional details on Small Business Week 2010, including information on all award winners, visit http://www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com/.
Small Business Week 2010 sponsors and cosponsors include: Sam’s Club, Visa, Ford, ADP, Raytheon, Cbeyond, UPS, Intuit, Google, eBay, AT&T, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, D&B, Verio, ASBDC, NADCO, NAGGL, NASE, NSBA, WIPP and SCORE.
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 #SBW2010
U.S. Small Business Administration
David J. Hall, 202-205-6697