LED, SBA Honor 2016 Louisiana Small Business Award Winners

BATON ROUGE, La. — Today, Louisiana Economic Development and the U.S. Small Business Administration announced the 2016 Louisiana Small Business Award winners at an event honoring small business leaders who exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit of Louisiana. The winners were honored in a private reception at the Governor’s Mansion.

“Small businesses make big contributions to Louisiana’s success,” LED Secretary Don Pierson said. “Ninety-seven percent of our employers in Louisiana are small businesses, and they employ more than half of the private-sector workforce in our state. From that vital constituency, we are pleased to recognize some of our most enterprising and innovative business leaders with these Small Business Awards.”

Throughout the year, LED and its partners provide a host of small business services to strengthen, retain and grow small businesses in Louisiana. During 2015, for example, LED’s Small Business Services team and the Louisiana Small Business Development Center Network served more than 13,400 small businesses and individuals, directly resulting in 1,472 new jobs, 947 retained jobs and the launch of 175 new businesses. Those services generated an estimated sales increase of more than $35.4 million and new debt and equity investment of $51 million for Louisiana’s small businesses. For more information about LED Small Business Services, visit OpportunityLouisiana.com.

The Small Business Award program recognizes top individuals and organizations in a broad range of performance categories. Here are the 2016 Louisiana Small Business Award winners: 

2016 SBA CHAMPION AWARDS

Financial Services Champion:
Virendra S. Chhikara, Christina B. Davis, Jami Kay Salter
LSBDC, University of Louisiana at Monroe
Monroe

Family Owned Business Champion:
Robert Romero
Three Brothers Farm Raw Sugar
New Orleans

Minority Small Business Champion:
Iesha Jones
Direnzic Technology & Consulting LLC
Monroe

Veteran Small Business Champion:
Danny Blanks, Timothy Jarquin
Pontchartrain Partners LLC
New Orleans

Women in Business Champion:
Donna Aucoin
Aucoin & Associates
Lafayette

Young Entrepreneur of the Year:
Barbara Bolotte Blank
Clean Creations
Gretna

Entrepreneurial Success Award:
Patricia F. Dubret
Frankonia Fine Wines LLC
New Orleans

Small Business Development Center Service Excellence and Innovation Center Award:
Donna Little
Louisiana Small Business Development Center at McNeese State University
Lake Charles  

Small Business Person of the Year:
Angela O’Byrne
Perez, A Professional Corporation
New Orleans

2016 LED ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS

LED Small and Emerging Business of the Year:
David and Jessica Minton
Cypress Engineering and Development Group
Lake Charles

LED Outstanding SEBD Graduate:
Glenda Washington
Kellie’s Sitting Services
Boyce

LED Most Outstanding Business Growth:
Rick Mekdessie
e-GOV Systems
Baton Rouge

Louisiana PTAC Contractor of the Year:
Lisa Cookmeyer
Trigon Associates LLC
New Orleans

MEPOL Small Manufacturing Award:
Donna Vincent
Infinity Valve & Supply
Youngsville

NFIB Small Business Champion:
Clay Pinson
Massengale Grounds Management
Baton Rouge

USDA Rural Development Lender of the Year:
Ken Hale
Bank of Montgomery
Natchitoches

USDA Rural Development Borrower of the Year:
Scott Mack
IntegriCo Composites
Sarepta