SANTA ANA, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration, Orange County / Inland Empire District Office is pleased to announce the following individuals, businesses and organizations as award winners for the Agency’s annual Small Business Week:

• California Small Business Person of the Year – Alice Kao, CEO & Co-founder, Sender One Climbing, LLC; Santa Ana
• Region IX 8(a) Graduate of the Year– Janet Lee, President, Exbon Development, Inc.; Garden Grove
• Exporter of the Year – Kusum Kavia, Combustion Associates, Inc.; Corona
• Exporter of the Year Runner-up- Soowan Kim, Emart America, Inc.; Cypress
• SBIR/STTR Award – Rajesh K. Jha, President and Founder, SimInsights, Inc.; Lake Forest
• Family-Owned Business of the Year – Chela Gutierrez Vera, Javier Valencia Huante, Chela’s Bakery; Riverside
• Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Manna Kadar, Founder & CEO, Manna Kadar Beauty, Inc.; Irvine
• Woman Owned Small Business of the Year – Mary Lynn Baker, President, DH Casters, Inc.; Ontario
• Community Excellence Award– Lisa L. Kim, Assistant City Manager/Community and Economic Development Director, City of Garden Grove Office of Economic Development; Garden Grove
• Community Excellence Award- City of Temecula Office of Economic Development; Temecula
• Veteran Champion of the Year- Emmanuel G. Montanez, Jr., EG Montanez Construction, Inc.; Trabuco Canyon
• SCORE Mentor of the Year- Jack McSunas, SCORE-Orange County Chapter; Santa Ana
• Women’s Business Center of Excellence- Kim Scanlan, Director, Coachella Valley Women’s Business Center; Palm Desert
• District Director Award – Tracy Stanhoff, Program Director, American Indian Chamber of Commerce PTAC; Huntington Beach

As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration takes the opportunity to highlight the contributions made by small business owners and champions to create 21st century jobs, drive innovation, and increase America’s global competitiveness.

The SBA Orange County / Inland Empire District is honored in recognizing the 2020 Small Business Week Award winners of the Year.

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 and is a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.  The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses, and recover from disasters.  Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. To learn more about SBA, visit www.sba.gov.

About the Orange County / Inland Empire District Office 

The Orange County / Inland Empire District Office, under the leadership and vision of J. Adalberto Quijada, District Director, is responsible for the delivery of SBA programs and services in the Southern California counties of Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino.  Located in Santa Ana near John Wayne Airport, the office and its staff facilitate understanding and access to SBA loan programs; coordinate and conduct hundreds of training sessions and special events annually such as matchmaking forums and loan workshops; and manage a portfolio of more than 100 businesses enrolled in the agency’s 8(a) business development program.