2014 Small Business Week Honorees | Santa District
The U.S. Small Business Administration today is pleased to announce Small Business Week award recipients from the Santa Ana District.
Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has proclaimed National Small Business Week to recognize the contributions of small businesses to the economic well-being of America.
As part of National Small Business Week, the SBA recognizes this special impact made by outstanding entrepreneurs and small business owners.
In yet another strong showing, the Santa Ana District produced eight district winners, two Small Business Person of the Year finalists, and the California Small Business Persons of the Year (CASBPOY). The CASBPOY will now compete for national honors in Washington, D.C.
The Robles Family of Anita’s Mexican Foods
The honorees are:
California Small Business Persons of the Year
Ricardo Robles, Rene Robles, Jackie Robles, Anita’s Mexican Food Corp.
Small Business Person of the Year – Finalist
John McCabe, McCabe’s Nursery & Landscape Construction
Small Business Person of the Year – Finalist
Rita M. Vigil-Ferguson, G&F Concrete Cutting, Inc.
District Director’s Award
Robert L. Dodge, Southland EDC
Women in Business Champion
Ursula Mentjes, Sales Coach Now
Financial Services Champion
Stacey L. Sanchez, CDC Small Business Finance Corp.
Veteran Small Business Champion
Michael Sabellico, Vanguard Global Solutions/OC Small Business Development Center/CADVBE
Minority Small Business Champion
Teresa Mercado, Santa Ana College / National Hispanic Business Women Association
Minority Small Business Champion
William N. Byers Jr., Explorer Studios
Exporter of the Year
Leah Martin, Fireblast Global
Small Business Development Center Excellence & Innovation Award
Ezekiel Bonillas, Coachella Valley Small Business Development Center
All honorees will be celebrated at the Small Business Awards luncheon on May 21st at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel in Anaheim.
National Small Business Week will honor the estimated 27.2 million small businesses in America. Small businesses are major contributors to the strength of the American economy. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business. They also create 60-80 percent of new jobs in the country.
For media inquiries, including interviews with honorees, contact Christopher Lorenzana at 714.560.7453 or christopher.lorenzana@sba.gov.
For more information about the awards luncheon, call (714) 953-4829 or email mail@ochcc.com.
