The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recognizes U.S. organizations in the business, health care, education, and nonprofit sectors for performance excellence. The Baldrige Award is the only formal recognition of the performance excellence of both public and private U.S. organizations given by the President of the United States. It is administered by the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, which is based at and managed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Small businesses are privately owned corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships that have fewer employees and/or less annual revenue than a regular-sized business or corporation. Businesses are defined as "small" in terms of being able to apply for government support and qualify for preferential tax policy varies depending on the country and industry. Small businesses range from fifteen employees under the Australian Fair Work Act 2009, fifty employees according to the definition used by the European Union, and fewer than five hundred employees to qualify for many U.S. Small Business Administration programs. While small businesses can also be classified according to other methods, such as annual revenues, shipments, sales, assets, or by annual gross or net revenue or net profits, the number of employees is one of the most widely used measures.
A sole proprietorship, also known as the sole trader, individual entrepreneurship or proprietorship, is a type of enterprise that is owned and run by one person and in which there is no legal distinction between the owner and the business entity. A sole trader does not necessarily work 'alone'—it is possible for the sole trader to employ other people.
A subcontractor is an individual or in many cases a business that signs a contract to perform part or all of the obligations of another's contract.
A general contractor, main contractor or prime contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and the communication of information to all involved parties throughout the course of a building project.
Hector V. Barreto Jr was the 21st Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, confirmed on July 25, 2001. George W. Bush nominated him to the post. He resigned on April 25, 2006.
A Supplier Diversity program is a proactive business program which encourages the use of minority-owned, women owned, veteran owned, LGBT-owned, service disabled veteran owned, historically underutilized business, and Small Business Administration (SBA)-defined small business concerns as suppliers. It is not directly correlated with supply chain diversification, although utilizing more vendors may enhance supply chain diversification. Supplier diversity programs recognize that sourcing products and services from previously under-used suppliers helps to sustain and progressively transform a company's supply chain, thus quantitatively reflecting the demographics of the community in which it operates by recording transactions with diverse suppliers.
HUBZone is a United States Small Business Administration (SBA) program for small companies that operate and employ people in Historically Under-utilized Business Zones (HUBZones). The HUBZone program was created in response to the HUBZone Empowerment Act created by the US Congress in 1998. Based on the Act, small businesses will be designated as HUBZone certified if they have the following criteria:
- The firm must be a small business based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for size standards.
- The business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens, or a Community Development Corporation, an agricultural cooperative, or an Indian tribe.
- The firm's principal office must be in a HUBZone.
- 35% of the firm's total workforce must reside in a HUBZone. On average, about 3,000 entities register for HUBZone certification each year.
International Armoring Corporation (IAC) is a designer and manufacturer of armoured cars using light weight synthetic fiber armor laminates. Established in Ogden, Utah, United States on May 6, 1993 International Armoring Corporation uses light weight synthetic armor laminates called Armormax. IAC designs and molds the armor to fit the vehicle rather than modifying the vehicle to fit the armor. IAC has sold 4,000 and 5,000 vehicles annually.
The New York State Small Business Development Center was created in 1984. The NYSSBDC is administered by the State University of New York and is funded by the State of New York, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and host campuses. The NYSSBDC is an accredited affiliate of the national network of Small Business Development Centers and a member of the Association of Small Business Development Centers.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is a United States government agency that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The mission of the Small Business Administration is "to maintain and strengthen the nation's economy by enabling the establishment and viability of small businesses and by assisting in the economic recovery of communities after disasters". The agency's activities are summarized as the "3 Cs" of capital, contracts and counseling.
Karen Gordon Mills served as the 23rd Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). She was nominated by President-elect Barack Obama on December 19, 2008, confirmed unanimously by the Senate on April 2, 2009, and sworn in on April 6, 2009. During her tenure, her office was elevated to the rank of Cabinet-level officer, expanding her power on policy decisions and granting her inclusion in the President's cabinet meetings. On February 11, 2013, she announced her resignation as Administrator and left the post on September 1, 2013.
Jovita Carranza is the 44th Treasurer of the United States after being appointed by President Donald Trump. She previously served as the Deputy Administrator for the United States Small Business Administration from December 2006 to January 2009. Appointed by President George W. Bush, Carranza was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Prior to the SBA appointment, Carranza served as Vice President of Air Operations for United Parcel Service (UPS) at its facility in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Kentucky Small Business Development Center (KSBDC) is a partnership between Kentucky's institutions of higher education, economic development organizations and the U.S. Small Business Administration. It opened in 1982 and operates 20 centers and satellite offices are located throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The KSBDC is headquartered at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. The KSBDC is an accredited affiliate of the national network of SBDCs, the Association of Small Business Development Center.
Professional Systems Associates, Inc. (PSA) is a small, veteran-owned business, located in Panama City, Florida. PSA is a Florida Corporation and was incorporated on October 20, 1988. PSA’s growth is rooted in: the partnership with General Services Administration and the GSA Schedule 70 IT contract, a very low employee turnover rate and the PSA Management team, which has been together since 1989.
The Miller Act requires prime contractors on some government construction contracts to post bonds guaranteeing both the performance of their contractual duties and the payment of their subcontractors and material suppliers.
The Top 100 Contractors Report is a list developed annually by the U.S. General Services Administration as part of its tracking of U.S. federal government procurement.
The Florida SBDC Network provides tools, training and resources to small businesses, and has more than 40 offices.
Torch Technologies is a 100% employee-owned system engineering, applied science, modeling & simulation and information technology small business headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, United States. Its primary customers are the United States Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) and the Missile Defense Agency, although it has contracts with other DoD agencies including the Navy and the Air Force. Torch has over 915 employee-owners located primarily in Huntsville, AL, Aberdeen, MD, Patuxent River, MD, Colorado Springs, CO, Albuquerque, NM, and Shalimar, FL.
Calvin W. Goings is the Director of Finance and Administrative Services for the City of Seattle, and a former politician. He was the youngest member to ever serve in the Washington State Legislature representing Puyallup at 22 years old.