FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The West Virginia District Office has announced the 2016 Small Business Week winners.
The District Office will celebrate the winners on May 4 during an invitation-only awards luncheon at the Robert H. Mollohan Research Center in Fairmont. In addition to the winners below, a Director’s Choice Award will be given to a deserving member of the community.
WV 8(a) Graduate of the Year (National Winner!)
Diana Marie Lewis Jackson – Action Facilities Management Inc.
Nominated by: James Merrill, Action Facilities Management Inc.
WV Small Business Person of the Year
Arria Hines – Allegheny Science & Technology Corp.
Nominated by: Deana Dean, i-79 Development Council
WV Exporter of the Year
Scott Hedges – Power Sonix Inc.
Nominated by: Matthew Coffey, WV Small Business Development Center
WV Family-Owned Small Business of the Year
Douglas Kreinik – Kreinik Manufacturing Company
Nominated by: Marsa Myers, WV Small Business Development Center
WV Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year
Francisco Guerrero – El Rey Mexican Restaurant
Nominated by: Susannah Higgins, WV Small Business Development Center
WV Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year
Lisa Levendosky Fritsch – Agile5 Technologies Inc.
Nominated by: Shannon Proud, Agile 5 Technologies Inc.
WV Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year
Douglas Edward Tate – Alpha Technologies
Nominated by: Terry Cyfers, WV Small Business Development Center
WV Encore Entrepreneur of the Year
Ralph and Amelia Garcia – Garcia’s Latin Market LLC
Nominated by: Sharon Stratton, WV Small Business Development Center
WV Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Nesha Ashok Sanghavi – University Girls
Nominated by: Sam Payne, WV Small Business Development Center
WV Small Business Champion of the Year
Jens Kiel – Made in Germany
Nominated by: Terry Cyfers, WV Small Business Development Center
Director’s Choice Award
To be announced May 4, 2016 at Small Business Week Award Celebration
WV top small business SBA lenders include:
West Virginia Lender of the Year
Huntington National Bank
Approved 56 SBA-guaranteed loans worth more than $4.4 million
West Virginia Community Bank of the Year
MVB Bank
Approved 11 SBA-guaranteed loans in West Virginia totaling more than $3.6 million
West Virginia Microlender of the Year
First Microloan of West Virginia
Approved 11 SBA-guaranteed loans for $394,000.