Small Business of the Year Winners Recognized at Lone Star College SBDC luncheon

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The Lone Star College Small Business Development Center named its 2019 Small Business of the Year Award winners.

The award recipients, representing a variety of small businesses, were recognized at the LSC SBDC 33rd Annual Small Business of the Year Awards Luncheon held Nov. 13 at the Lone Star Community Building Star of Texas Ballroom.

“Small businesses accounted for 65% of new jobs in America,” said Miguel Lopez, LSC SBDC executive director. “The Lone Star College Small Business Development Center is proud to recognize all the small-business owners here today.”

The event included more than 270 guests and business owners who were welcomed by the LSC SBCD. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., LSC chancellor; Valerie Maher, lead economic development specialist, Houston U.S. Small Business Administration; and Linda Leto Head, LSC senior associate vice chancellor, External and Employer Relations also spoke on the importance of supporting small businesses in our community.

Shown (left – right) are Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., LSC chancellor; Heather Washburn, district director for U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady; Valerie Maher, lead economic development specialist, Houston U.S. Small Business Administration; and Miguel Lopez, LSC SBDC executive director.

The 2019 33rd Annual Small Business of the Year awards were given to:

Family-Owned

  • Boatman Construction, LLC (Shane D. Boatman and Shane B. Boatman)

Minority-Owned

  • Sergio’s Landscaping Services (Sergio Martinez)

Small-Business Owner

  • The Young Learners (Dan Altom, Debbie Kaschik and Ed Ziegler)

Veteran-Owned

  • Abundant Health & Wellness Center (Dr. Polly Heil-Mealey and Stephen W. Hale)

Woman-Owned

  • Spinal Care Chiropractic Center, P.C. (Dawn Schwab, D.C. and Lisa Rister, D.C.)

Young Entrepreneur

  • Serenity Massage, PLLC (Jena Massie)

The awards ceremony was co-hosted by Mark Mitchell, Lake Houston Area Economic Development Partnership president, and Kelly Violette, Tomball Economic Development Corp. executive director. Heather Washburn, district director for U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, offered commendations to the award recipients noting the congressman’s longtime support of small businesses.

Woodforest National Bank, Hello Woodlands, Community Impact Newspapers, The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership, Howard Hughes and Frost Bank co-sponsored the event.

The LSC SBDC recognizes successful small businesses that make an impact in the local community each year. More than 114 nominees were submitted from the community and narrowed down to the 16 finalists. The finalists were selected by the members of the voting committee, a subcommittee of the SBDC Advisory Council, on the basis of leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, business growth and contribution to the community. Click here for a list of the finalists.

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 start, grow and succeed.

For more information about the SBDC visit sbdc.LoneStar.edu.

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