Kentucky Ag Connection - Kentucky Celebrates Small Business

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Kentucky Celebrates Small Business
Kentucky Ag Connection - 04/18/2018

National Small Business week is April 29 to May 5, and the Kentucky Small Business Development Center is ready to celebrate.

In partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, KSBDC is preparing for its Kentucky Celebrates Small Business awards ceremony, in the Capitol Rotunda at 10 a.m. May 2. The ceremony will honor both the U.S. Small Business Administration award winners and recognize KSBDC's Pacesetter program honorees. A small reception will follow.

Gov. Matt Bevin will join U.S. Small Business Administration senior area manager Michael Ashcraft and Becky Naugle, KSBDC director, as they honor the men and women who have used outstanding business practices and community outreach to help grow Kentucky's economy.

U.S. SBA award winners include:

- Kentucky Financial Services Advocate of the Year: Earl Twinam, director of business development, First & Peoples Bank and Trust Company, Russell

- Small Business Advocate of the Year: Tom Underwood, state director National Federation of Independent Businesses -- Kentucky, Prospect

- Kentucky Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year: Kathy Mills, president and CEO, Strategic Communications LLC, Louisville

- Kentucky Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year: Alejandro Ramirez, owner, Universal Spartan LLC, Vine Grove

- Kentucky Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year: Mavis Linnemann-Clark, owner, The Delish Dish LLC, Covington

- Kentucky Small Business Person of the Year: Lesme Romero, owner /manager, EZ Foods Inc., doing business as Lexington Pasta and Pasta Garage, Lexington

Pacesetter honorees include:

- Troy Bryner, president, Tri-State Industrial Supply, Ashland

- Chris Gerbig, president, Pink Lily Boutique, Bowling Green

- Brent Jarboe, CEO, Atlas Development Group LLC, Elizabethtown

- Andy Eastes, CEO, SkyVault, Louisville

- Mavis Linnemann-Clark and Lesme Romero will also be honored with Pacesetter recognitions.

Those who are interested in attending the event should RSVP to Natalie Cunningham: Natalie.cunningham@uky.edu or 859-257-0104.

The Kentucky Small Business Development Center, part of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, is a network of 12 offices located throughout the state. The center helps existing and start-up businesses succeed by offering high quality, in-depth and hands-on services. KSBDC is a partner program with the U.S. Small Business Administration. More information on KSBDC services can be found on their website, http://www.ksbdc.org/.

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