Office of
Advocacy
U.S. Small Business Administration
NEWSRELEASE
SBA Number: 01-04 ADVO
Contact: Kathryn J. Tobias (202) 205-6938
For Release: April 13, 2001
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy has named seven individuals to receive its annual national advocacy awards and three to receive special awards. The Advocates of the Year were selected because of their outstanding advocacy efforts to improve the climate for small business. Special Award categories include Small Business Exporter, SBA Young Entrepreneur, and Entrepreneurial Success. The winners come from diverse backgrounds and represent a wide range of geographic areas. The 2001 Advocates of the Year and Special Award Winners are:
| Advocates | ||
| Accountant Advocate | Henry O. Aldana Principal Aldana & Associates, LLP |
Rockville, Maryland |
| Financial Services Advocate | Gary Youmans Executive Vice President Community National Bank |
Fallbrook, California |
| Home-Based Business Advocate | Julie V. Damon Executive Director The SEED Institute |
Irvine, California |
| Small Business Journalist | Jeffery D. Zbar Journalist/Freelance Writer/ Business Owner |
Coral Springs, Florida |
| Minority Small Business Advocate | John Earl Baines Owner John E. Baines, P.C., Certified Public Accountants |
Denton, Texas |
| Veteran Advocate | George David Boyer President Veterans Communication Services, Inc. |
Rancho Cucamonga, California |
| Women in Business Advocate |
Teresa "Teri" Cavanagh Senior Vice President FleetBoston Financial Director Women Entrepreneurs’ Connection |
Boston, Massachusetts |
| Special Awards | ||
| Small Business Exporter | R. William Hazelett President Hazelett Strip-Casting Corporation |
Colchester, Vermont |
| SBA Young Entrepreneur | Christopher Schmus President & CEO ProDriver Leasing Systems, Inc. |
Greenfield, Wisconsin |
| Entrepreneurial Success | Fredrick "Ric" Gonzalez Chairman and CEO Gonzalez Design Group |
Madison Heights, Michigan |
"It’s a pleasure to recognize the contributions of these small business advocates, who play such an important role as catalysts in our dynamic economy. These national awards are a small tribute to the efforts of so many who further the cause of America’s small business entrepreneurs," Acting Chief Counsel for Advocacy Susan M. Walthall said.
The Advocacy winners will be honored during the National Small Business Week celebration, May 6-12, 2001, in Washington, D.C. National Small Business Week is held each year, by proclamation of the President of the United States, in recognition of the small business community's contributions to the American economy and society. Visit http://smallbusinesssuccess.sba.gov for more information on this event. Biographical sketches on each of the Advocacy winners can be found at http://www.sba.gov/advo/winners01.html.
The SBA also recognizes Small Business Persons of the Year from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. A national Small Business Person of the Year will be selected from among the state award winners during the celebration in the nation's capital.
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The SBA’s Office of Advocacy was created by an act of Congress in 1976 to protect, strengthen, and effectively represent the nation’s small businesses within the federal government. As part of this mandate, the office conducts policy studies and economic research on issues of concern to small business and publishes data on small business characteristics and contributions. For instant access to small business resources, statistics, and research, visit the Office of Advocacy’s home page at http://www.sba.gov/advo/.