(From the SBA)
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Delaware District Office released further details on the 2015 Small Business Award Winners. SBA’s Delaware Director, John Fleming, will honor winners at at SBA’s annual Delaware “Celebrate Success” event, to be held on May 5.
The awards dinner will be held at DuPont Country Club. Dinner and beverages begin at 4 p.m. with the awards ceremony beginning at 5:30 p.m.
“As a local commemoration of the presidentially-designated National Small Business Week, this event is an opportunity to recognize the achievements of small business and its advocates in Delaware,” said Fleming. “Every year the award winners honored at this event have truly distinguished themselves and represent the very best that the Delaware small business community has to offer.”
Businesses to be honored at SBA’s 2015 Delaware Small Business Awards event are:
Small Business Person of the Year: Joseph (Brad) Winemiller, owner of Greenleaf Services Inc. in Wilmington, Delaware.
Founded in 1992, this Disabled Veteran-owned business is a construction and landscaping firm. Assisted in part by an SBA loan, the firm has shown remarkable expansion in employment and profitability. Winemiller’s company specializes in the maintenance of Veteran Cemeteries in many states including Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC. “As a Veteran, there is no greater pride than to honor the nation’s fallen Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, than maintaining their final resting place,” said Winemiller.
Small Business Exporters of the Year: Robert A Rider, President and CEO of O.A. Newton; Bridgeville. Also winner of the Regional Exporter of the Year
Founded in 1916 as a feed and chick business, this company has evolved and diversified in many directions. Today, in addition to being a primary supplier of feed mills, grain storage and rain handling equipment, they also provide irrigation equipment, PVC pipe and fittings to the Delmarva Peninsula. Their newest venture exports material control systems throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia O.A. Newton provides turnkey systems from design, customization and installation for the control and movement of resins and other materials.
8(a) Graduate of the Year: Eli and Sher Valenzuela, owners of First State Manufacturing, Milford. Also winner of the Regional 8(a) Graduate of the Year
From humble beginnings, this company founded in 1998, has grown to one of the most successful manufacturers in the state. Providing upholstering and insulating services to the U.S. military and many commercial entities, they have earned a reputation for solving difficult problems with customized unique solutions. In the process they have saved the US taxpayer millions of dollars by providing on time delivery of services at well below the previous contractors cost. They also provide product to the Israeli military in the form of body armor.
Woman Owned Business of the Year: Alisa Morkides, owner, Brew HaHa! , 9 locations throughout New Castle County.
Inspired by premier espresso bars in Italy, Brew HaHa!’s series of unique cafes across the Brandywine Valley offer coffee lovers a boutique experience. The cafes offer a melding of Italian quality and Delaware friendly service. Each café has its own individual look and feel, and every drink is special and treated with individualized attention.
Veteran Owned Business of the Year: Don Chupp, President, Fireside Partners, Dover and New Castle, De.
Fireside is a leading provider of 24/7 asset tracking, emergency response service, and on-site support to some of the world’s best known brands. When not responding, Fireside is actively developing emergency response plans, training, and coordinating drills and exercises. Services include daily aircraft and private asset monitoring, worldwide weather and hazardous events reporting, diversion and coordination of in-flight medical support, post-accident investigative support, family notification and assistance, personal effects recovery and return, and resource coordination with local agencies. The company is presently positioned as an exclusive, confidential, and highly specialized service provider whose focus is protecting high visibility corporate assets, brand and reputation, and employees.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Garrett Grier, Managing Member, Milford Car Wash and Seaford Car Wash t/a Duck In Car Wash
With the assistance of an SBA backed 504loan and assistance from Margo reign at the Small Business Development Center, Garrett opened the Milford Car Wash at the age of 25. With steadily increasing sales he opened the Seaford Car Wash. Together the two locations have created more than 50 jobs, and Garrett feels it important to pay a living wage. Garrett is an officer on the Milford Town Council and the Central Delaware Chapter of Ducks Unlimited.
Small Business Champion of the Year: Juanita Beaufort, Director, Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) , Newark.
In her role at PTAC Juanita has assisted more than one thousand Delaware small businesses enter the federal contracting field. She and her staff hold frequent training events throughout the state for groups and individuals.
In the course of her 16 year history at PTAC, Juanita has come to be recognized as a National expert in the federal contracting field. She has served on the board of the National association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers for twelve years and has recently held the post of President..
Lender Awards:
Top Delaware SBA 7(a) Program Lender by Number of Loans: M & T Bank
Top Delaware SBA 7(a) Program Lender by Dollar Amount: Applied Bank
7(a) Combined Dollar Amount and Number of Loans: WSFS Bank
Top Delaware SBA 504 Program Lender: Delaware Community Development Corporation
Top Delaware SBA 504 Program Third Party Lender,: M & T
