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National Small Business Week is a national recognition event to honor the United States' top entrepreneurs each year. The distinguished group of small business owners are hailed each year by the U.S. Small Business Administration and a collection of event co-hosts. The 2013 event marks the 60th anniversary of the agency, and the 50th annual Presidential proclamation of National Small Business Week.
Annual honors include:
The National Small Business Person of the Year, selected from the 54 State Small Business Persons of the Year. The Phoenix Awards, recognizing a public official, a business owner and a volunteer whose efforts have helped their businesses or communities recover successfully from a disaster. The Lender of the Year, honoring financial institutions, including those that provide financing for small business exporters and inner city businesses. The Entrepreneurial Development Awards, honoring Small Business Development Centers, Women's Business Centers and SCORE for their innovation and excellence in assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Excellence, recognizing large prime contractors who have excelled in their utilization of small businesses as suppliers and subcontractors. The Small Business Prime Contractor and Small Business Subcontractor of the Year, honoring small businesses that have provided government and industry with outstanding goods and services as prime or sub contractors.
Small business owners from across the country will be honored for their accomplishments as the nation's leading small businesses, culminating in the announcement of the National Small Business Person of the Year.
On the final day of National Small Business Week, State Small Business Person of the Year winners from across the country meet in Washington, D.C. to see which of them will be named National Small Business Person of the Year. The National Small Business Person of the Year and runners-up will be selected from among the 54 state small business winners, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. Small businesses being honored in 2013 reflect a wide range of businesses, from high-tech startups and communications firms, to a printing company and a helicopter pilot school.
In addition to the State Small Business Persons of the Year, men and women involved in disaster recovery, government procurement, small business champions, and SBA partners in financial and entrepreneurial development will be honored.
The small business community nationwide can take part in Small Business Week by participating in Google+ hangouts and watching selected programming of the week's events via live stream at www.SBA.gov/NSBW. The site includes information on small business honorees, event co-sponsors, schedule of events and press materials.
Small businesses are types of corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships which have a small number of 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. The qualifications vary 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 be classified according to other methods, such as annual revenues, shipments, sales, assets, annual gross, net revenue, net profits, the number of employees is one of the most widely used measures.
A sole proprietorship, also known as a sole tradership, individual entrepreneurship or proprietorship, is a type of enterprise owned and run by only 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 and may employ other people.
A subcontractor is a person or business which undertakes to perform part or all of the obligations of another's contract, and a subcontract is a contract which assigns part of an existing contract to a subcontractor.
A contractor or builder, 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.
A micro-enterprise is generally defined as a small business employing nine people or fewer, and having a balance sheet or turnover less than a certain amount. The terms microenterprise and microbusiness have the same meaning, though traditionally when referring to a small business financed by microcredit the term microenterprise is often used. Similarly, when referring to a small, usually legal business that is not financed by microcredit, the term microbusiness is often used. Internationally, most microenterprises are family businesses employing one or two persons. Most microenterprise owners are primarily interested in earning a living to support themselves and their families. They only grow the business when something in their lives changes and they need to generate a larger income. According to information found on the Census.gov website, microenterprises make up 95% of the 28 million US companies tracked by the census.
Hector Vincent Barreto Jr. is an American public servant who served as 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 July 2, 2006.
Earl Gilbert Graves Sr. was an American entrepreneur, publisher, businessman, philanthropist, and advocate of African-American businesses. A graduate of Morgan State University, he was the founder of Black Enterprise magazine and chairman of the media company Earl G. Graves, Ltd. He was the director for Aetna and Executive Board member of the Boy Scouts of America. He was the father of Earl G. Graves Jr.
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.
William Darnell "Bill" Euille is an American politician who served as the mayor of Alexandria, Virginia from 2003 until 2016, serving as the first African-American in the city's history to hold that position. He was also one of two alternates representing Virginia on the board of directors of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. In 2020, Euille was appointed to the Virginia ABC board.
The New York Small Business Development Center (NYSBDC), established in 1984 and administered by the State University of New York (SUNY), operates 20 regional service centers across the state. With a team of around 260 professionals, including business advisors, administrators, and staff, the NYSBDC offers information and assistance to small businesses. Funded by various sources, including the U.S. Small Business Administration, the of New York, local communities, and host campuses, the NYSBDC provides confidential business advisement services at no direct cost to New York's citizens and entrepreneurs. The program focuses on delivering individualized business advising and technical assistance, covering areas such as access to capital, technology development, and business planning.
The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent agency of the United States government 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 have been summarized as the "3 Cs" of capital, contracts and counseling.
Karen Gordon Mills is an American businessperson and former government official who 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 an American businesswoman who served as the 26th Administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2020 to 2021, having previously served as the 44th Treasurer of the United States from 2017 to 2020. She was appointed to both roles by President Donald Trump. Before that she served as the Deputy Administrator of the 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 her first appointment to the SBA, Carranza served as Vice President of Air Operations for United Parcel Service (UPS) at its facility in Louisville, Kentucky.
Torch Technologies is an employee-owned system engineering, applied science, modeling & simulation and information technology business. 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 1100 employee-owners and is headquartered in Huntsville, AL, with technical offices located in Aberdeen, MD, Albuquerque, NM, Boston, MA, Colorado Springs, CO, Detroit, MI, Honolulu, HI, Patuxent River, MD, and Shalimar, FL.
3C Institute is a private, for-profit research and development company based in Durham, North Carolina which develops "web- and game-based applications and technology solutions designed to improve the health and well-being of youth and families." The company partners with researchers, program providers, non-profits, and companies to develop customized digital information delivery systems, such as personalized games, e-training courses, and web-based assessments. 3C Institute also develops evidence-based social emotional learning products for children, adolescents, and parents.
Christopher Hurn is an American writer, entrepreneur, and business executive who works primarily in the field of small business lending. He is the founder and CEO of Fountainhead, a company that provides commercial real estate financing and growth capital for small business owners. He previously founded Mercantile Capital Corporation, a financier of owner-occupied commercial real estate and an Inc. 500 company. He served as CEO of that company prior to leaving in late 2014 to launch Fountainhead.
Terry Neese is an American businesswoman and politician. A member of the Republican Party, she was the first woman nominated by a major political party for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma, in 1990; in 2020 she was a candidate for the Republican nomination in Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
Lawrence "Larry" Janesky is an American businessman, entrepreneur, author and trainer. Janesky is the founder and CEO of Contractor Nation & Basement Systems Inc. He is the co-founder of Total Basement Finishing, Inc., Supportworks, Inc., Dr. Energy Saver, Inc., and Klaus Roofing Systems. Janesky began his local basement waterproofing company in 1987, serving homeowners in the Fairfield, New Haven, and New London, CT counties. CTBS has been in business for over 35 years and now serves all of CT's Counties and Westchester, NY.
Superstition Meadery is a meadery, winery and cider house founded in 2012 and based in Prescott, Arizona. As of 2016 they produce 6,000 gallons a year. They won four gold medals and one silver at the 2016 Mazer Cup International mead competition. Availability is localized to Arizona through their distribution partnership with Hensley Beverage Company, with additional direct-to-consumer shipping in 40 U.S. states, and account distribution to 25 U.S. states. They also distribute worldwide in Denmark, Thailand, Japan, and Singapore.
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) is a non-profit organization of volunteer counselors who provide free mentoring, education programs, workshops, and webinars to small businesses. SCORE is a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) who administers a Congressional grant which provides SCORE with funding. SCORE is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with over 233 chapters which are located in offices located throughout the United States. It is the nation's largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors.