CHARLOTTE – SBA has named the 2011 Small Business Champion Award winners in the state of North Carolina. Every year since 1963, the President has proclaimed National Small Business Week to recognize the contributions of small businesses to the U.S. economy. 2011 Small Business Week will be celebrated May 15-21, 2011 and the theme is “Empowering Entrepreneurs.”
The Champion Awards recognize individuals for their achievements on behalf of small business.
“Our winners are to be commended for their commitment and contribution to the innovation, job creation, and the success of building our economy,” said SBA North Carolina District Director Lynn Douthett.
The North Carolina District 2011 Small Business Champion Award winners:
Veteran Small Business Champion – Mark M. Haupt, Sr., President of Converged Services, LLC in Raleigh, - Converged Services delivers IT solutions to the State of North Carolina, City of Charlotte and other municipalities. Haupt is also a co-Founder & current President of the North Carolina Veterans Business Association, Inc. (NCVetBiz). The mission of NCVetBiz is to improve the business climate for veterans and service disabled veterans, to minimize access barriers and to inform the public about the benefits of working with veteran-owned small businesses.
Financial Services Champion of the Year Award – John R. Canosa, Jr., Vice President of Surrey Bank and Trust of Mount Airy, NC. He is also the manager of US Government Lending for Surrey Bank, handling SBA and USDA loans. John is active in his community helping business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs and students learn more about financial literacy and preparing to start or expand a small business.
SBA Women in Business Champions of the Year – Sherrie Aycock and Tara Olson, Co-CEO’s of AllPoints Research, Inc. in Winston-Salem, NC. They have co-owned and operated the business since 1996. AllPoints is a marketing research firm which offers services in business strategy and communications. Both lead WIPP's Instant Impact team in North Carolina. In this capacity they meet, organize, strategize and discuss important issues affecting women business owners.
Both winners are active in WIPP, a national nonpartisan public policy organization that advocates for and on behalf of women and minorities in business. - REGION IV WINNERS
Minority Small Business Champion of the Year – Annette H. Stevenson, Supplier Diversity Manager of the SAS Institute, Inc. in Cary, NC. She is responsible for advancing the goals and objectives of the company's supplier diversity initiatives. Stevenson works to ensure diverse suppliers have access to procurement opportunities at SAS, including Minority and Women Business Enterprises (MWBEs) - REGION IV WINNER
The REGION IV winners have also won the award for the SBA Southeastern Region IV. SBA’s Southeast Region IV includes: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
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