CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has named the North Carolina Minority Small Business Person of the Year for 2011. It is Leah Brown, President/CEO of A10 Clinical Solutions, Inc., (A10) in Cary, N.C.
“It is a great pleasure to honor the Minority Small Business Person of the Year and salute the contributions of North Carolina’s small businesses,” said Lynn L. Douthett, SBA’s North Carolina District.
A10 conducts clinical research studies to help improve healthcare in areas such as cancer, HIV, H1N1 and cardiovascular disease. This work also contributes to the Food & Drug Administration approval of various drugs and treatments. Along with pharmaceutical and medical institutions, the Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health, and Department of Defense are among A10’s large array of clients.
Nominees for the award must own and operate a minority small business in accordance with SBA's rules and regulations. The firm must have been in business for at least three years and be in satisfactory financial condition. A10 is an African American, Woman-Owned Small Business.
In 2009, A10 Solutions was accepted into SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program.
Prior to entering SBA’s 8(a) program, A10 Solutions had 78 employees and sales over $5 million. Since joining the program, the firm has over 300 employees with nearly $20 million in revenues.
The 8(a) Program, named for a section of the Small Business Act, is a business development program created to help small disadvantaged businesses compete in the American economy and access the federal procurement market.
For more information about A10, contact Kelly Garnett at 919-674-3366 or kgarnett@A10clinical.com.
SBA Minority Small Business Persons of the Year Awards are part of the national celebration of Minority Enterprise Development Week (MED Week). This year the natinoal MED Week conference, hosted jointly by SBA and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency will take place Sept. 27-30, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.
The theme for this year’s MED Week event is “Emerging Industries & Markets: A Blueprint for Success,” and its focus will be on helping minority-owned small businesses expand their operations and establish a presence in the global marketplace while helping them weather current economic climate.
MED Week celebrates the accomplishments of outstanding minority entrepreneurs and leaders and provides a platform for small, minority-owned businesses to learn about business growth strategies, receive premier training and networking opportunities.
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