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SBA Washington Metro Area District Office announces 2011 Small Business Champion Awards
Posted April 29, 2011
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WASHINGTON, DC -- Five noteworthy people and one exceptional team have earned 2011 Washington Metropolitan Area Small Business Awards, presented by the Washington Metropolitan Area District Office of the Small Business Administration each year to recognize those individuals and institutions whose outstanding contributions helped make the D.C. metro region a great place to do business. The Annual Small Business Awards recognize small business owners who have achieved notable success while making a valuable contribution to the community. In addition, awards are given to those who champion the cause of advancing opportunities for others, whether or not they themselves are in business.
The Veterans Business Champion award is presented to an individual who has fulfilled a commitment to the advancement of small business opportunities for veterans of the U.S. armed forces. This year, the Washington Metro Area Veterans Business Champion is Barbara Ashe of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Barbara is the creator and director of the Veterans Institute for Procurement (VIP) Program, which provides veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces the professional training they need to successfully compete for federal government contracts. In the first year, 125 business owners have found a way to continue serving their country in civilian life while building the futures they so richly deserve.
The Minority Business Champion goes to an individual who has fulfilled a commitment to support the advancement of small business opportunities for minority business owners. This year's Washington Metro Minority Business Champion is Danny Vargas of Herndon, Virginia. Danny grew up in the slums of Brooklyn, New York, and often went without food or shelter. Overcoming all obstacles, he graduated from high school with honors and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. After his discharge he went to work in telecommunications, founding his own consultancy in 2004. Danny has made giving back to his community a priority. As Chairman of the Dulles Chamber of Commerce, he grew the Dulles Hispanic Business Council until it was able to sustain a Professional Support Program for local small business owners. Other initiatives he pursued through the Chamber included garnering support to re-ignite the plans for rail service to Dulles and initiating a mortgage clinic for troubled homeowners. Danny also serves on the advisory board of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Commission of the National Museum of the American Latino, the Virginia Workforce Council, and the Board of the Northern Virginia Family Service.
Women in Business Champion is awarded to an individual who has fulfilled a commitment to the advancement of women's business ownership. This year, the Washington Metro Area Women in Business Champion is Judy Bradt of Summit Insight. From 1988 to 2003, Judy was the top specialist in US government contracting at the Canadian Embassy in Washington DC. Today, as Principal of Summit Insight in Washington DC, Judy's an expert author, speaker and consultant. As leader of the Instant Impact Team for Women Impacting Public Policy, she advocates better access to government opportunities and capital. Judy shares her expertise with other enterprising women as contributor to GIVE ME FIVE, the national initiative to increase women business owners' share of federal contracts and she is currently chair-elect of the Economic Development Forum of the National Association of Women Business Owners.
Financial Services Champion is an individual who assists small businesses through advocacy efforts to increase the usefulness and availability of accounting or financial services for small businesses. Edward Tuvin, VP of Capital Bank has earned that honor for 2011 with his longstanding efforts to help small businesses gain access to financial capital. In addition to his work with Capital Bank, a community lender in Rockville, MD, Eddie works with other lenders and members of the community to broaden access to capital for small businesses throughout the region.
The Small Business Development Center of Excellence and Innovation award honors an SBDC Service Center for excellence in providing value to small businesses and advancing program delivery and management through innovation. The Mason Small Business Development Center at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia boasts a dedicated team of certified small business counselors who have dramatically expanded their impact on the Northern Virginia economy. By increasing the quality, quantity, efficiency, and reach of their counseling and training programs the Mason SBDC has serviced more than 765 entrepreneurs in the past two years, nurturing more than 60 startup companies and retaining more than 1,200 area jobs.
Preivously, the SBA Washington Metro District announced that the 2011 District of Columbia Small Business Person of the Year is Freddie Winston of F&L Construction, Inc.
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