SBA announces Los Angeles District Office 2016 Small Business Week Award Winners

LOS ANGELES–The U.S. Small Business Administration, Los Angeles District Office, is proud to announce the following award winners from throughout Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties:

Small Business Person of the Year – Omar Rodriquez, X-Igent
Financial Services Champion of the Year – Mark Morales, HomeStreet Bank                                                                                                                                  8(a) Graduate of the Year – Travis Mack, Saalex Solutions                      Small Business Exporter of the Year – Prime Aerotech International Inc., Jeffrey Tedja, President                                                                                      Women’s Business Center of Excellence- Women’s Economic Venture (WEV), Leah Gonzales, Director                                                                              SBDC Excellence and Innovation- University of La Verne SBDC, Sean Snider, Director                                                                                                        Family Owned Business of the Year – Ventura Transit System, Inc., Masood Babaeian, CEO                                                                                      Minority Small Business Champion of the Year – Bianca Vobecky, Vobecky Enterprises                                                                                             Veteran Business Champion of the Year – Chet Seto, CJSeto Support Services                                                                                                                      Women in Business Champion of the Year – Teri Kelsall, The Jonas Project                                                                                                               Innovation Through Technology Business of the Year – Tail Lights, Inc., Sami Gros, CEO

"National Small Business Week gives us a chance to honor the Los Angeles District's small businesses' hard work, innovative ideas, and dedication to community," said Los Angeles District Office, District Director, Victor Parker. “The diversity of the businesses and of the honorees are prime examples of what makes the Los Angeles District so great and embodies the spirit of why we celebrate National Small Business Week,” said Parker.
As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration takes the opportunity to highlight the contributions made by small business owners to create 21st century jobs, drive innovation, and increase America’s global competitiveness.
For more than 50 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration has been recognizing the special impact made by outstanding entrepreneurs and small business owners during the National Small Business Week Celebration. Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week, honoring America’s job creators. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.
The Small Business Week honorees from Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties will be recognized at the Small Business Week Awards Celebration on May 24.
For more information about the awards program or the honorees, contact Mike Blass, Small Business Week Coordinator at (818) 552-3201 or email [email protected].