Small Business Awards

U.S. Small Business Administration Celebrates
 National Small Business Week 2007

Corpus Christi – The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Corpus Christi Branch Office with the assistance of a nominating committee made up of local community partners has named Ramon Hernandez, President/CEO of Probado Technologies, Inc (Corpus Christi) as Small Business Person of the Year.  The SBA will also honor brothers Patric (Andy) and Stuart (Matt) Crocker owners of Crocker Transfer & Storage Company, Inc. (Corpus Christi) as the Jeffery Butland Family Owned Business of the Year.  Mr. Hernandez and the Crocker brothers will receive the same honors at the district level for the SBA’s Harlingen District Office which includes seven counties of the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

SBA will acknowledge the hard work and dedication of individuals who help entrepreneurs on their path to success. These individuals support their community by assisting small business owners with development and growth.  Darlene Gregory, owner of East Meets West Productions, LLC (Corpus Christi) is this year’s Minority in Business Champion of the Year.  Ms. Gregory will also receive the same honor at the district level for the SBA Harlingen District Office.  Betsy Geddis, Vice President, of First Community Bank, is this year’s Financial Services Champion of the Year, and Nelda Martinez, President of Adlen Enterprises, Inc. (Corpus Christi) is this year’s Women in Business Champion of the Year.

SBA will also honor the dedicated service of its resource partners that provide counseling and training to local small businesses. Michael North, a Certified Business Advisor with Del Mar College Small Business Development Center, will be honored as SBDC Counselor of the Year; and Lloyd DeVries, SCORE Counselor, SCORE Chapter 221 (Corpus Christi) is this year’s SCORE Counselor of the Year. 

Del Mar College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will host the annual awards luncheon to celebrate Small Business Week 2007 on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 starting at 11:00 a.m. at the Solomon P. Ortiz International Center, 402 Harbor Dr. in Corpus Christi, TX. Seating is limited for the luncheon, so please contact Lisa Farr at 361-698-1021 for reservations. 

Release Date: April 16, 2007             

Press Contact: 
Debbie Fernandez
Corpus Christi Branch Office
3649 Leopard Street, Suite 411
Corpus Christi, Texas 78408                           
(361) 879-0017, x16
URL: www.sba.gov/news/