 | | Cassius F. ButtsRegional AdministratorU.S. Small Business Administration |
Reaching Entrepreneurs is Our Top PrioritySBA announced the release of the Spanish language version of SBA.gov and includes 2,000 translated Web pages, including dynamic content such as blogs and press releases. To further expand outreach opportunities to SBA audiences, the Spanish language site will also be available through mobile devices. Approximately 25% of SBA.gov visitors access the site via a mobile device, and that number continues to grow. Please be sure to utilize tools such as this to extend assistance to even more entrepreneurs across this great region. The SBA Spanish site can be accessed at: https://es.sba.gov/  SBA Region 4Outstanding Employee Recognition: If there was ever an advocate for the woman small business owner, it is Jacqueline Merritt, Economic Development Specialist of the Tennessee District Office in Nashville. She brings over 25 years of federal service to the SBA and works tirelessly to advocate SBA programs to this underserved market. Jacqueline is frequently on the road in the Volunteer State presenting workshops on Financing Your Business the SBA Way or the Women's Owned Small Business Contracting Rule. She connects with her audiences to offer how SBA may enable women who aspire to become a small business owner. She is also the District's Technical Representative overseeing two Women's Business Centers, one each in Nashville and Chattanooga, where SBA resource partners offer counseling and training assistance. Our Region thanks Jacqueline for being an employee with a positive outlook and serving as an advocate of women business owners.  | |
A special thank you to Jacqueline Merritt, Economic Development Specialist, SBA Tennessee District Office |
The SBA Mississippi District Office is extremely pleased to welcome its newest team member Derek Eady. Derek joins the SBA's Mississippi District Office as an Economic Development Specialist operating out of the Gulfport Branch Office. Derek is a graduate of Tulane University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations. His most recent position involved working with a non-profit economic development organization that provides resources and assistance to the citizens living along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He is a veteran having served 11 years in the U.S. Air Force at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS. Welcome Derek! | |  |
What's Happening for Small Business In Your Area?State By State | | Alabama DistrictTom Todt, Alabama District DirectorOn May 18, the Alabama District Office welcomed its new Business Opportunity Specialist, Jawanda L. Henderson. Jawanda came to the District Office from the Disaster Loan Center and we are delighted to have her on our team. |
Welcome to the SBA's 8(a) Team in Alabama, Jawanda Henderson! | |  |
 | | North Florida DistrictWilfredo J. Gonzalez, District Director The North Florida District office participated in a Small Business Week luncheon in Orlando, Florida to honor the Central Florida area winners. The luncheon was hosted by Eunice Choi, Regional Director for the Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida, on May 19, 2015, at the Citrus Club. District Director Wilfredo Gonzalez presented awards for Small Business Person of the Year and Exporter of the Year at the event.
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The 2015 SBA North Florida District Small Business Person of the Year is Sandra Saft. Saft is the President of S. Saft and Company dba Window Interiors, located in Altamonte Springs, Florida. | |  |
The North Florida district, State of Florida, and Region IV Small Business Exporter of the Year is Douglas Worswick. Worswick is the President of Certified Slings, located in Casselberry, Florida. | |  |
 | | SBA to participate in the upcoming Florida 8(a) Alliance's Annual Conference in Orlando, FL June 8th & June 9th. Come learn from the SBA first-hand on how to maximize your contracting opportunities! Click here for the agenda. |
 | | South Florida DistrictFrancisco "Pancho" Marrero, District Director South Florida District provided support to SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet during her visit to the Miami area to kick off National Small Business Week, May 4-8. During her visit, the Administrator spoke to entrepreneurs, small business owners and resource partners at four events and visited two local businesses. South Florida District Small Business Persons of the Year are being honored at events throughout South Florida this month. Two small business owners were flown to Washington, DC for the culminating events of National Small Business Week. Carol Craig of Craig Technologies in Cape Canaveral was a runner-up for National Small Business Person of the Year. Lisa Crites, founder and President of the Shower Shirt Co. in Melbourne was a second place finisher in SBA's inaugural InnovateHER Challenge. Congratulations again to all our small business persons of the year and those who were nominated. A strategic alliance was signed with the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development on May 20. We are scheduled to sign a statewide alliance with the Dept. of Homeland Security on June 9 and later the same day in Orlando, resign our statewide alliance with the Florida 8(a) Alliance. These alliances are more than just formal "handshakes." They provide the foundation from which we can work together with partners in starting and growing south Florida business. |
Pictured with Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet are, Front row, (left to right): Tina Davis, Administrative Officer; Regional Administrator Cassius F. Butts; Administrator; Jonel Hein, deputy district director; and Jeff Campbell, assistant district director 8(a) program. Back row: Ralph Johnson, Administrative assistant; James Brooks, Public Affairs Specialist; and Kim Prenter, Lending Relations Specialist. | |  |
 | | Georgia DistrictTerri Denison, District Director Georgia's newest SBA Women's Business Center (WBC) will hold a grand opening on Wednesday, June 3 at its Norcross, Georgia location. Funded in part through a cooperative agreement between SBA and Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE), ACE Women's Business Center will have two locations, Norcross and Atlanta. Maria Peck, formerly a loan officer with ACE will serve as Executive Director. ACE is a non-profit community lender, whose mission is to start and grow small businesses as well as create jobs by providing access to capital and business advisory services. In addition to hosting the new Women's Business Center, ACE is an SBA microlender and Community Advantage Lender. Its Executive Director, Grace Fricks was named the Georgia District's Financial Services Champion for 2014. Ms. Fricks founded ACE in 1999, literally from her Kitchen table, to fill the gap in funding for small businesses in North Georgia counties.
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 | | Kentucky DistrictRalph Ross, District Director Mr. Scott Shinn, President and CEO of Sustainment Solutions, Inc. (SSI) in Lancaster, KY, was named the SBA 2015 Kentucky Small Business Person of the Year by the SBA Kentucky District Office. The company is a Veteran-Owned, HUBZone certified business and has participated in SBA's STEP exporting program, received business analysis from the SBDC in Lexington and worked with the PTAC in Kentucky. SSI has experienced 700% growth in revenue since its inception in 2009 and operates in tough, remote and hazardous climates. The company has seven full-time employees and 40+ contractors worldwide, with a footprint that has grown to 25 countries and counting. SBA's Kentucky District Office also announces the following awards: - Ms. Kathy Mills, President and CEO of Strategic Communications, LLC in Louisville, is the 2015Kentucky 8(a) Graduate of the Year;
- Mr. David Oetken, Director of the Louisville SBDC, is the 2015 Kentucky SBA Resource Partner of the Year;
- Mr. Mark Strother, President and CEO of The Commercial Bank of Grayson, is the 2015 Kentucky Financial Services Advocate of the Year;
- Ms. Nicole Mueller, Owner of Startup Production, LLC in Richmond, is the 2015 Kentucky Home-Based Small Business Advocate of the Year;
- Ms. Michelle Gorman, Small Business Specialist at US Bank in Bowling Green, is the 2015 Women Business Advocate of the Year; and
- Mr. Shane Hamilton, President of Service Maids, LLC in Garrett, is the 2015 Kentucky Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
SBA Kentucky District Office Director Ralph Ross stated, "Entrepreneurs are the engines who drive our economy forward. Every year we honor them during Small Business Week, and this year we have an extra reason to celebrate. The Kentucky unemployment rate has dropped to 5.1%, and demand for SBA loans has increased 30% over last year. Our Kentucky Entrepreneurs are hard at work, and we cannot thank them enough." Kentucky winners were honored at the "Kentucky Celebrates Small Businesses" event in Frankfort on May 6 in conjunction with the Kentucky SBDC Network and NAWBO – Lexington small business awards. |
 | | Mississippi DistrictJanita Stewart, District DirectorOn the evening of Tuesday, May 5th, Mississippi SBA District Director Janita Stewart and staff held its 2015 Small Business Week Award Reception. The ceremony, held at the Old Capitol Inn in Jackson, MS, brought together an audience of approximately 160 attendees to celebrate award winning Mississippi small business entrepreneurs, champions, outstanding lenders and a hero in the aftermath of a disaster. The event also underscored the economic impact entrepreneurship, the lending community, resource partners and a network of others provide in Mississippi.
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 L-R: Mississippi & Region IV 8(a) Graduate Rod L. Hill of Integrated Management Services (IMS), Jackson, MS; Minority Small Business Champion Shellie C. Michael, Executive Director of the Mississippi Minority Business Alliance, Inc., Jackson, MS; Financial Services Champion Chuck Herring of South Delta Planning & Development District, Greenville, MS; Small Business Persons of the Year Willie A. O'Neal, Jr. and Derek Starling, Sr. of SOL Engineering Services, LLC., Jackson, MS; Gary Reed, MS Deputy District Director; Janita Stewart, MS District Director; Veterans Small Business Champion Geraldine Warden of the U.S. Navy Base Fleet and Family Support Center, Gulfport, MS; Small Business Journalist Alice Tisdale of The Jackson Advocate, Jackson, MS; and Phoenix Award for OutstandingContributions to Disaster Recovery Mayor William A. Hill of the City of Louisville, MS. Community Bank of Mississippi was also celebrated as "Top Loan Volume and Top Dollar" Lender of the Year. | |  |
L-R: Gary Reed, Brad McGee, Monica Cook, Janita Stewart, Thomas Trueher, Matt Allen and David Hughes. Three Rivers Certified was named as "Top Certified Development Company". | |  |
L-R: Gary Reed, Matt Koon and Janita Stewart.  | | North Carolina DistrictLynn Douthett, District Director Emerging Leaders Charlotte Kick-off On April 22, The North Carolina District Office held a kick-off event to celebrate the inaugural Charlotte Emerging Leaders (EL) class. Eighteen small businesses were selected to participate. Packard Place, a Charlotte Tech Incubator hosted the event. District Director Lynn Douthett and Mary Vickers-Koch, Dean of Business and Industry Service at Central Piedmont Community College, provided opening remarks. Emerging Leader Program Instructor G. Sean Williams provided an overview of the program. |
 (left to right) SBA District Director Lynn Douthett; Mario Mendigana-Elite Touch Cleaning Services; Brad DeMarco-Dynamic Design Solutions; Camisha Farris-Anointed Flooring; Tim Northrup-The Map Shop; Tim Songer-Interactive Knowledge; Julie Glenn-Echols, Purser & Glenn, PLLC; David McClure- McClure CPA PA ; Gregory Sylvia (hidden) –Gregory Sylvia LLC ; Clifford McClain- Construction Concepts and Design Inc.; Tamara Neely-HomeCare for the Carolinas; Ben Knight-FASTSIGNS; Kristin Dodd-Carolina Pest Management; Phillip Nordan-Treehouse Vineyards; Bill Bailey-Rapier Solutions; Emerging Leader instructor G. Sean Williams; SBA Lead Economic Development Specialist Eileen Joyce; Gilberto Bergman-Bergman Brothers Staffing; Mary Vickers Koch – Central Piedmont Community College; Donald Colson-VIP Courier Express.  | | South Carolina DistrictElliott Cooper, District Director The South Carolina District Office is excited to welcome Carl Faison to our business opportunity division. As a Business Opportunity Specialist, Mr. Faison will help administer the SBA's 8(a) Business Development Program--which helps eligible socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses to expand their participation in federal contracting--and also assist individual 8(a) firms in South Carolina. Mr. Faison retired from the U.S. Air Force in May 2006 and immediately began civilian service as a Contracting Specialist with Shaw Air Force Base. Before his current position with the SBA, Mr. Faison was a Contracting Officer with Shaw's 20th Contracting Squadron. A native of Dayton, Ohio, Mr. Faison holds a Bachelor's in Business Administration from Saint Leo University and a Master's Degree in Procurement & Acquisitions and an MBA, both from Webster University.
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Please help us in welcoming a new member to the SBA team! Welcome, Carl Faison, Business Opportunity Specialist, SBA South Carolina District Office | |  |
 | | Tennessee DistrictWalter Perry, District Director May activities and events in the TN District Office included an action-packed National Small Business Week (SBW) celebration, covering the entire state.
On May 5th, SBA District Director Walter Perry, Deputy District Director LaTanya Channel and District International Trade Officer, David Tiller, presented the Tennessee Small Business Person of the Year Award to Dr. Edward Glaser, Founder & CEO of Sole Supports, Inc. Dr. Glaser, a podiatrist, grew his orthotics business from no employees in his garage to almost 100 employees in a 40,000 sq. ft. factory in the town of Lyles in about 10 years-- with the help of an SBA loan. The awards event, at Dr. Glaser's factory, was attended by all the employees, as well as local and regional dignitaries and U.S. Congressman, Marsha Blackburn. Dr. Glaser's success in exporting as well as domestic sales to podiatrists and chiropractors was highlighted.
Director Perry presented a special award to Pathway Lending and their new Women's Business Center in Nashville, with Amy Bunton, Mildred Walters and Clint Gwinn on hand to accept the award. On May 6th, Gloria Armstead, Business Opportunity Specialist, and Jacqueline Merritt, Economic Development Specialist, attended the annual Business Opportunities Conference in Chattanooga to celebrate SBA's week-long event. Also on May 6th, SBA's David Tiller attended and keynoted a SCORE luncheon in Memphis to commemorate National Small Business Week.
On May 7th Tennessee SBA staff attended the Nashville Mayor's Small Business Forum, with over 200 other attendees, where National Small Business Week was also noted by the Mayor in his address. Also on May 7th, David Tiller, PIO, presented "SBA 101—an Overview" to the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce, emphasizing SBA's outreach to the small business community during the week-long observance. Tiller also co-hosted "The Money Show" on May 7th on WFSK Radio, at Fisk University, an HBCU, with Renee Bobb as the show's guest—to celebrate SBW and SBA's commitment to serving Veterans. Ms. Bobb is a service disabled Veteran and entrepreneur who teaches Financial Empowerment classes with the TN SBA and SCORE, as well as Veterans organizations, on a regular basis.
On May 8th, Director Perry and Veterans Business Development Officer, David Tiller, presented on a panel and manned a booth at the 4th Annual "Services to Those Who Have Served" Veterans outreach event in Johnson City, hosted by U.S. Congressman, Phil Roe, a medical doctor, and Vietnam-era Veteran. The Tennessee Small Business Development Center at East Tennessee State University presented the event along with the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, City of Johnson City, the SBA, and several Veterans groups assisted almost 100 attendees, and capped off National Small Business Week in the Volunteer State. |
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