Lone Star College SBDC names 2016 Small Business of the Year winners

The Lone Star College Small Business Development Center Advisory Council named its six 2016 Small Business of the Year Award winners.

The winners, one representing each of the six Lone Star Colleges, were announced at the SBDC Advisory Council’s 30th Annual Small Business of the Year Awards Banquet held at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott, Thursday, Nov. 18. This year’s awards were sponsored by BBVA Compass Bank.

The event included more than 340 guests and business owners who were welcomed by Stephen C. Head, LSC chancellor.

“Small businesses play such an important role in our community, representing 99 percent of all employer firms,” said Stephen C. Head, LSC chancellor. “We recognize the best of the best, six successful small business owners, one from each of the Lone Star College areas.”

The 2016 30th Annual Small Business of the Year award was given to:

  • Mathnasium of Cy-Fair – John and Dr. Catherine Labuda, representing the LSC-CyFair area.
  • Minuteman Press – Connie and Darryal Chandler, representing the LSC-Kingwood area.
  • Better Bookkeepers – Melanie Bush and Barry Blanton, representing the LSC-Montgomery area.
  •  Mirror Lake Designs – Michael Shawn Kelly and Blinda Ann Kelly, representing the LSC-North Harris area.
  • Massage Envy Tomball – Mack and Michelle Miller, representing the LSC-Tomball area.
  • Shredding on the Go – James Parker, representing the LSC-University Park area.

The winners, one representing each of the six Lone Star Colleges, were announced at the SBDC Advisory Council’s 30th Annual Small Business of the Year Awards Banquet held at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott, Thursday, Nov. 18. This year’s awards were sponsored by BBVA Compass Bank.

The event included more than 340 guests and business owners who were welcomed by Stephen C. Head, LSC chancellor.

In addition to announcing the winners, the Small Business Development Center recognized the efforts of its director, Sal Mira, who will retire in Jan. 2017. Rep. Kevin Brady’s office presented Mira a U.S. flag which was flown over the capitol. In addition, a LSC scholarship endowment was created in his honor by the LSC Office of External Affairs, the LSC SBDC and the SBDC Advisory Council. Mira served as director for 10 years.

 “I would personally like to thank Sal for his work with the Small Business Development,” said Head. “His efforts have helped numerous businesses in our community thrive and be successful.”

The LSC SBDC Advisory Council recognizes successful small businesses that make an impact in the local community each year. More than 200 nominees were submitted from the community and narrowed down to the 18 finalists. The finalists were selected by the 18 members of the advisory council on the basis of leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, business growth and contribution to the community.

The LSC SBDC works with companies to help them grow and compete in today’s global economy. SBDC services are available for companies in every phase of the business life cycle, helping entrepreneurs make sound decisions and succeed. For more information about the SBDC visit www.sbdc.LoneStar.edu.

photo credit: Lone Star College SBDC

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