HINCKLEY – Victoria Tifft, President & CEO of Clinical Research Management, Inc. (ClinicalRM) of Hinckley, Ohio, has been named the National 2012 Small Business Person of the Year by the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA).  Ms. Tifft was one of the Small Business Person of the Year winners from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam that converged on Washington, D.C. during SBA’s May 20-22 celebration of National Small Business Week, where Ms. Tifft was selected as National Small Business Person of the Year.

ClinicalRM is a full service contract research organization that supports the development of FDA-regulated vaccines, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices for both government and commercial customers.  The research projects supported by ClinicalRM, which strive to make positive change to medical practice, touch the lives of millions of citizens around the globe.

“The innovation, inspiration and determination shown by Victoria Tifft and her employees have elevated ClinicalRM to a level that is above and beyond the norm,” said Gil Goldberg, District Director of SBA’s Cleveland District Office.  “These are the qualities that make small businesses such a powerful force for job creation in the American economy and in their local communities.”

Mr. Goldberg noted that nominees for this award are judged on seven criteria: staying power; growth in number of employees; increase in sales and/or unit volume; strong current and past financial reports; innovativeness of product or service offered; response to adversity; and contributions by nominee to aid community-oriented projects. 

“This year we are delighted to recognize Victoria Tifft and ClinicalRM’s significant contribution to the economy of Northeast Ohio and the entire United States, in addition to the company's commitment to charitable and community-oriented projects”, Mr. Goldberg added.  “Ms. Tifft exemplifies entrepreneurship at its best.”

The President of the United States designates one week each year as National Small Business Week in recognition of the small business community’s contribution to the American economy.   This celebration honors the estimated 27.5 million small businesses in America that employ half of the country's private work force, create 65 percent of net new jobs annually, and generate a majority of American innovations.

To obtain contact information on the company, or for more information about Small Business Week, please call SBA’s Cleveland District Office at (216) 522-4180, ext. 215.