SBA Announces Plans To Mark Agency's 50Th Annversary

News Release

RICHMOND DISTRICT OFFICE Release Date: May 13, 2014 Contact: Matthew Nowak, (804) 307-1458 Release Number: 14-13 E-mail Address: [email protected] Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Blogs CORRECTED: SBA Richmond District Office Announces its Small Business Award Winners

RICHMOND, Va. ─ The U.S. Small Business Administration Richmond District Office will recognize small business owners and advocates that have made critical contributions to America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners as part of their “Heart of a Champion” Small Business Awards Luncheon June 13 at the Richmond Omni Hotel.

“We are extremely proud of each and every winner for their hard work, dedication, and fortitude that is reflected by our small businesses across Virginia,” said Acting Richmond District Office Director Jacqueline West. “Earning these awards takes a heart of a champion.”

The list for this year’s winners:

. Small Business Person of the Year: Devon M. Henry, CEO of Team Henry Enterprises, LLC in Newport News . Community of the Year: The City of Chesapeake, Mayor Alan P. Krasnoff . Contractor of the Year: Marcos Silva, President of M&F Concrete Inc. in Manassas . Sub-contractor of the Year: Roberto Ortiz, President and CEO of AVMAC LLC in Chesapeake . Exporter of the Year: Sara McCaleb Baldwin, CEO of New Ravenna Mosaics in Exmore . Minority Business Champion of the Year: Oliver Singleton, President of the Metropolitan Business League in Richmond . Women in Business Champion of the Year: Angela Barber, Small Business Development Coordinator for the City Of Chesapeake Economic Development . Veterans Business Champion of the Year: Fred Wellman, CEO of ScoutComms, Inc. in Stafford . Financial Services (Credit Union) Champion of the Year: Natasha Merz, Vice-President of Business Lending for Langley Federal Credit Union in Newport News . Financial Services (Bank) Champion of the Year: Marie Taylor Leibson, Senior Vice President, Sonabank in Warrenton . SCORE Chapter of the Year: Martinsville SCORE Chapter #540 in Martinsville, Bob Brown, Chairman . Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Center Award: Small Business Development Center of Hampton Roads, Inc. in Norfolk, Jim Carroll, Executive Director

Virginia’s top small business SBA lenders will also be recognized during the awards luncheon: . Top Certified Development Company: Tidewater Business Financing Corp, R. Patrick Gomez, President . Top 504 First Trust Lender: BB&T, Karen Pitman-Ayers, Senior Vice President . Top Credit Union: Langley Federal Credit Union, Natasha Merz, Senior Vice President . Top Community Bank: . Live Oak Banking Company Neil L. Underwood, President . Celtic Bank, Frederick W. Crispen, Senior Vice President . Top Intermediate Bank: Sonabank, Marie Taylor Leibson, Senior Vice President . Top Overall Lender: BB&T, Karen Pitman-Ayers, Senior Vice President

The award winners will be honored during a luncheon Friday, June 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Richmond Omni Hotel. Information about the event can be found at www.SBWVA.org.