Hawaii’s Top Small Businesses Honored by SBA
To view the article, click HERE2009 Award Winners Show Talent, Resilience and Entrepreneurial SpiritBy Jane Sawyer, 3/23/2009 4:12:42 PMHONOLULU, HAWAII – The U. S. Small Business Administration is pleased to announce the Hawaii winners of the prestigious SBA Small Business Awards for 2009. Each year, SBA honors outstanding small business owners, entrepreneurs and advocates who best illustrate the important contributions of small business to the local economy and to our quality of life. The top entrepreneurs and business owners demonstrate the qualities, skills and drive to place them as leaders in their industry including job creation, growth in annual revenue, innovation, staying power, response to adversity and contributions to their community. Over thirty five outstanding business owners, advocates, and business leaders will be honored at the 22nd Annual Statewide SBA Small Business Awards Luncheon on April 24, 2009, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.The 2009 Small Business Person of the Year for the State of Hawaii is Vaughn Vasconcellos, president and CEO of Akimeka, LLC. With offices on Maui and Oahu, Vasconcellos provides high impact technology solutions and services to the Department of Defense and other government agencies. A graduate of SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program, Akimeka LLC has grown under Vasconcellos’ leadership, creating over 160 jobs for talented, highly educated professionals in our state and generating millions in annual revenues. His passion for technology is demonstrated in his work on many community projects such as the Maui Digital Bus, Hawaiian Homestead Technology on Kauai, and the Mobile Care Health Project on the Big Island. Vasconcellos will represent Hawaii in the competition for the National title at the celebration of National Small Business Week from May 17-22, 2009, in Washington, D.C. with winners from the other 49 states, Guam and Puerto Rico.Top small business owners were also selected to represent each county in the State.• On Oahu, Shelley J. Wilson, founder, president and CEO of Wilson Homecare, took the City and County’s top award for her fast growing company.• For Hawaii County, Dr. John Stover, president of Hilo Oral and Facial Surgery and it’s statewide network of offices, was chosen as the 2009 Small Business Person.• Kauai’s Small Business Person of the Year is Valerie Parker, president and CEO of The Parker Group, providing comprehensive project management and technical services to DOD contractors.• Max Tsai, president and owner of TC Kokua, a customer call center for Hawaii and U.S. mainland organizations, was selected as Maui’s 2009 Small Business Person of the Year.Two of Hawaii’s top performing small businesses and advocates were also awarded regional titles in competition with other winners from California, Arizona, Nevada. The Region IX winners also enter into the national competition in their respective categories.• Michael Fairall, Mokulua Woodworking, was named “SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year” for Hawaii and Region IX.• Naomi Hazelton-Giambrone, Pacific Edge Magazine, garnered the State and Region IX title as the Small Business Journalist.Along with these noteworthy small businesses, other business owners and champions in nine different categories were also honored for their accomplishments and business acumen:The Entrepreneurial Success Award is given to a company that started as a small business and, with assistance from SBA, has since grown into a successful large business:• State of Hawaii – Timothy Moore, Michael Moore and Robert Aguiar Hoaloha Na Eha, Ltd, dba Old Lahaina Luau and Aloha Mixed Plate• City and County Of Honolulu– John Yamamoto, PEMCO, Ltd.The Family Owned Small Business Award recognizes a small business with at least a 15 year history that has been owned and operated by the family, creating jobs, increasing revenues and providing opportunities for other family members.• State of Hawaii – Jayne and Jay Kim, June Arakawa of Eki Cyclery• County of Maui – Kiyoko Komoda, Betty and Calvin Shibuya, Ikuo Komoda, Dan Komoda of Komoda Store and Bakery, Inc. in Makawao• County of Hawaii – Dwight Manago of Manago Hotel, Inc. in Captain Cook• City and County of Honolulu – Shiro Matsuo of Shiro’s Saimin Haven & Family Restaurant• County of Kauai – Frank and Pearl Nonaka, Scot and Merlyn Nonaka of Kauai Producers.The Small Business Exporter Award is presented to a small business that derives a significant portion of their sales from export outside the U.S. and is supportive of other efforts to export U.S. made products and services.• State of Hawaii – Richard Xie, President of Hawaiian Sealife, Inc.• County of Kauai – Dana Roberts, CEO of Malie, Inc.The Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award identifies an individual who has successfully owned and operated a small business, increasing revenue, jobs, and demonstrating potential for long term success for at least three years before reaching the age of 30 at the time of the award. In addition to State and Regional award winner Mokulua Woodworking, the 2009 county winners include:• County of Maui – Raiatea Helm, musician and owner of Raiatea Helm Records, LLC.• City and County of Honolulu – Asa Ikeda, president and owner of Cam Security.The Financial Services Champion Award is presented to those individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to increasing access to capital, reducing regulatory burdens and helping small businesses improve their financial conditions through assistance, legislative support and other advocacy.• State of Hawaii – Jean Jeremiah, administrator for SCORE of Hawaii• County of Maui – Susie Thieman, CEO of MEO Business Development Corporation in Wailuku• County of Hawaii – Darl Gleed, Darl C. Gleed Attorney at Law in Kailua Kona• City and County of Honolulu – Michael Hulser and Jennifer Hulser of The Biz MD in Kapolei.Small Business Journalists are selected based on their work to increase public awareness about the challenges and issues that small businesses face and the contributions they make to our economy. Along with State and Regional winner Naomi Hazelton-Giambrone, other journalists honored as county winners in 2009 include:• City and County of Honolulu – Kristen Consillio, small business reporter• County of Maui – Sara Ruppenthal, owner of Maui Writers Block and freelance journalist• County of Kauai – Randy Francisco, president of the Kauai Chamber of CommerceThe Women in Business Champion award goes to those individuals who, as advocates, have fulfilled a commitment to the advancement of women’s business ownership and who assist and support women in their quest to own, manage and direct their own company. The honorees are:• State of Hawaii – Melissa Pavlicek, owner and president of Hawaii Public Policy Advocates• County of Hawaii – Constance Cate, director of East Hawaii office of the Hawaii Small Business Development Center Network• County of Maui – Carol Ball, Carol Ball and Associates• County of Kauai – Susan Tai, Kauai Economic Development Board• City and County of Honolulu – Tanna Dang, owner of the Wedding Café at Ward CentreThe Minority Small Business Champion title is awarded to those individuals who have selflessly provide assistance and support to minorities entrepreneurs and business owners.• State of Hawaii – Barbara Haliniak, small business owner and president of the Molokai Chamber of Commerce• City and County of Honolulu – Marie Villa, Latin Business Hawaii & Hawaii Hispanic NewsHome Based business has emerged as a popular alternative to the high cost of maintaining a buisiness location. The Home Based Business Award goes to an individual who has experienced the reward of owning a home based operation and has also supported others in that effort.• State of Hawaii – Agnes Reyes, president of Case Management Professionals, Inc.• County of Hawaii – Melanie Biddle, owner of Hale Ho’onaneaThe Veteran Small Business Champion’s award recognizes an individual who has fulfilled a commitment to support advancing small business opportunities for veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. The State of Hawaii title was awarded to Judy Aranaydo, a coordinator for the Pearl Harbor Fleet and Family Support Center.The 2009 SBA Small Business Award winners will be honored with special events on all islands and capped by the 22nd Annual Statewide Luncheon at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Friday, April 24, 2009, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Hosted by the Hawaii Women’s Business Center (HWBC), the luncheon will also feature the “Winner’s Circle,” a special business expo for award winners to showcase their products and services. Tickets to this inspiring awards event are available for $45 each through the Hawaii Women’s Business Center. Reservations can be made by calling (808) 526-1001 or by clicking on their website, http://www.hwbc.org
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