SBA Declares Small Business Week Honorees for 2025
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is set to host the 2025 National Small Business Week from May 4-10, with a virtual summit scheduled to take place. Registration and speaker details can be found on the event's official page.
During this week-long celebration, various awards will be presented to businesses and resource partners for their exceptional contributions in several areas. These include government contracting, disaster recovery, exporting, small business investment, and surety bonding.
One of the most prestigious awards, the Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year, was given to Karen Renee Paschal, President and CEO of Conco Inc., Louisville, Ky. The identity of the Small Business that received the title 'Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year' in 2025 remains undisclosed.
Another notable award was the Small Business Subcontractor of the Year, which went to Antonio Martinez, President and CEO of Renaissance Global Services LLC, Holmdel, N.J.
The Small Business Award was presented to Luis and Amy Fuentes Ruiz, Island Catering LLC, Lahaina, Hawaii. The Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award was bestowed upon the Angelo State University Small Business Development Center, San Angelo, Texas, led by Director Dezaray Kathlaine Johnson.
The Women's Business Center of Excellence Award was given to the Women's Business Center of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, led by Director Anne Marie Wallace.
In the realm of disaster recovery, the SBA recognised resilience with the Phoenix Awards. While no specific recipients were mentioned in the provided information, it is clear that these awards honour businesses and individuals who have shown exceptional resilience in the face of adversity.
The Dwight D. Eisenhower Awards for Excellence were given to three recipients in different categories. Glenn Sweatt, Vice President, Contracts and Compliance, Environmental Chemical Corporation, Burlingame, Calif. (in the Construction category), Rondu Vincent, Executive Director, Supplier Diversity and Sustainability, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrence Township, N.J. (in the Manufacturing category), and Lisa Tanner, Small Business Liaison Officer and Senior Manager of Supply Chain Excellence, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, Aiken, S.C. (in the Services category) were all honoured.
Outstanding Contributions were also recognised in two categories. Senior Pastor John Grayson, Gospel Tabernacle Church, Selma, Ala. was honoured in the Volunteer category, while Mayor Jennifer Linam Hobbs, Wynne, Ark. received the award in the Public Official category.
The SCORE Chapter of the Year award went to SCORE Greater Seattle, Seattle, Wash., led by Chapter Chair Suvendoo Ray. The Veterans Business Outreach Center of the Year was awarded to the Veterans Business Outreach Center at University of Texas Arlington College of Business, Arlington, Texas, led by Director Patrick Alcorn.
The Small Business Investment Company of the Year - Established Manager was given to GMB Capital Partners, Minneapolis, Minn. The Exporter of the Year award was presented to Louis Auletta, President and CEO, and Michael Auletta, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Bauer Inc., Bristol, Conn.
Lastly, Gina Hill, Owner/President of G.M. Hill Engineering Inc., Jacksonville, Fla., was honoured as the 8(a) Graduate of the Year for her achievements in federal contracting. The search results do not provide information about the company that received this title in 2025.
Local events can be identified by searching with #SmallBusinessWeek. These awards and recognitions serve as a testament to the hard work, resilience, and innovation of small businesses across the nation.
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