SBA Award Nominations Sought

PITTSBURGH  DISTRICT OFFICE          
Release Date:  December 2, 2013 Contact:  Janet Heyl (412) 395-6560, ext. 103
Release Number: PGH14-03        Janet.Heyl@sba.gov
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Make a Big Deal out of Small Business
Nominations being accepted for local and national
Small Business Administration awards


PITTSBURGH – It’s time for community leaders to make a big deal out of local small business owners and perhaps catapult them to center stage in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) annual awards program designed to honor entrepreneurial excellence.

“We know small businesses are the backbone of the economy and employ approximately 50 percent of the nation’s workforce, said Carl Knoblock, Western Pennsylvania SBA district director.  “Additionally, successful small businesses help spur economic activity and civic pride through charitable donations of both time and money to assist their neighbors and better their community.”

According to Knoblock, an SBA nomination is the ideal platform to recognize an entrepreneur who exemplifies success in both the business and community sectors.

“We all know that small business owner that goes the extra mile to not only provide good jobs to area residents, but continually steps up to the plate to improve the neighborhood, because it’s their neighborhood too” he added. “Now is your chance to recognize that individual.”

This spring, the SBA will set aside a day -- National Small Business Day – to honor the nation’s top small business owners. In Western Pennsylvania, the SBA will set aside three days to laud the region’s Small Business Person of the Year, Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Exporter of the Year.

For more information on the nomination process, including all necessary forms, please contact the Janet Heyl of the Western Pennsylvania SBA District Office at 412-395-6560, ext. 103 or email janet.heyl@sba.gov or learn more online at: http://nationalsmallbusinessweek.sba.gov/user

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The U.S. Small Business Administration – helping small businesses start, grow and succeed.
                                                                                                                                                                           

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Art Green Lauded as Local SCORE Volunteer of the Year

News Release


PITTSBURGH DISTRICT OFFICE

Release Date:
May 23, 2011
Contact: Janet Heyl
(412) 395-6560, ext. 103

Release Number: PGH11-17 Janet.Heyl@sba.gov

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Former executive receives accolades from SBA

as local SCORE Volunteer of the Year

PITTSBURGH – When Art Green, a retired engineer and quality improvement consultant at Westinghouse, opened the doors to his own consulting firm years ago, he admitted he could have used the assistance of SCORE – America’s Counselor’s to Small Business.

At that time, Green hadn’t yet heard about the volunteer corps of retired and working professionals who lend their expertise counseling area entrepreneurs and small business owners. Ironically, Green, was recently selected as the 2011 Western Pennsylvania District SBA SCORE Volunteer of the Year.

Green and eight other local small business owners and advocates will be lauded at the Western Pennsylvania SBA May 27th Awards Luncheon which will be held at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel Pittsburgh. The luncheon is held in conjunction with the 48th annual celebration of National Small Business Week.

A native of Ambridge, Pa., Green earned a degree in mathematics from Saint Vincent College and a degree in electrical engineering from [now] Carnegie Mellon University. He went to work at Westinghouse, serving in the process control computer systems engineering division.

“We built control systems to automate steel mills and power plants,” Green said. “The systems controlled the settings, speeds and power to generate optimum output.” But Green did more than build the control systems; he also installed the systems throughout the country and often took his family with him.

“One time I helped install a control system at a steel mill near Chicago and I moved my family out there for about six months; another time we rented a furnished apartment in Phoenix while I did installation work for a power plant,” he said. “The funny thing is those computer control systems were housed in a cabinet that was about seven feet high and today it would fit in a laptop computer.”

Green obtained his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh, transferred out of engineering to finance and accounting and then spent the last third of his Westinghouse career as a quality improvement consultant. He focused on productivity and quality techniques to improve profitability.

“I travelled around the world and the U.S. and when I retired after 34 years, I started my own consulting business and spent time with many U.S. companies and made frequent trips to Saudi Arabia,” he said. “When I became the sole owner of my business, I was the consultant and the marketer and the accountant and I probably did a lot of things wrong.”

While Green was unaware of SCORE and how the organization assists small business owners, a chance golf game introduced him to a local member. In 2005, a now-retired Green joined the Pittsburgh Chapter of SCORE.

“It’s been a great experience and I even have an office – which is the Panera Bread restaurant in Monroeville,” he added chuckling. “I love one-on-one counseling and right now I have about 30 active clients.” Green said he not only helps entrepreneurs determine if they are prepared to start a business, but recently assisted a specialty cleaning operation with their inventory management system.

“I went to their site for a few hours each week for six months to look at their inventory needs,” he said. “I suggested they employ the “Just in Time Management System” that enabled them to never run out of a product or over order… it involves labeling items used and determining the lot size of that item.”

According to Western Pennsylvania SBA District Director Carl Knoblock, Green is prime example of how SCORE volunteers continue to give back to their community. “Here you have a retired executive who for many months lent his productivity and inventory expertise to a small business,” Knoblock said. “It’s a win-win situation for the counselor, the business and the community.”

In addition to counseling, Green serves as the co-chair for Pittsburgh SCORE’s monthly Small Business Basics workshops, in which guest speakers teach topics such as business planning, recordkeeping/taxes, marketing, finance and legal issues.

“Those workshops are my baby, I attend each session to make sure it runs correctly,” he said. “I coordinate the speakers, venue, and catering and have been doing that for five years. In that time we’ve had almost 1,000 attendees.”

Green, who never thought his career would span volunteering and coordinating workshops, said that he was floored to be nominated and even prouder to win. “I spend a great deal of time with SCORE and I enjoy it,” he said. “It’s fun and there are about 20 of us who do part-time counseling. It’s a great experience.”

Note: If you would like to speak with Art Green or Carl Knoblock, Western Pennsylvania SBA district director, please contact Janet Heyl at 412-395-6560, ext. 103.
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The U.S. Small Business Administration – helping small businesses start, grow and succeed.

Barbara VanKirk Named SBA Woman-Owned Business of the Year

News Release


PITTSBURGH DISTRICT OFFICE

Release Date:
May 20, 2011
Contact: Janet Heyl
(412) 395-6560, ext. 103

Release Number: PGH11-16 Janet.Heyl@sba.gov

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Local engineer computes formula for success and receives honor as SBA Woman-Owned Business of the Year

MURRYSVILLE, PA – Growing up with her 12 brothers and sisters in the Pittsburgh suburbs, Barbara VanKirk often found herself acting as a mediator. She would listen to both sides of their problems and offer a practical solution. Today VanKirk still works as a facilitator, but at her own company: IQ, Inc. As president and CEO, she coordinates the dynamics between her staff of 45, and clients requesting consulting, project management and product development services.

VanKirk has grown her firm from its humble beginning at her family home to its own site and has worked with the Port Authority of Allegheny County, PNC, UPMC and Management Science Associates. The IQ, Inc. philosophy of smart choices and smart people has enabled VanKirk to blend her love of technology and people to offer smart solutions for her clients.

The woman who went to night school for seven years to earn her degree in computer science will be honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration as the Western Pennsylvania Woman-Owned Business of the Year. VanKirk and eight other local small business owners and advocates will be lauded at the Western Pennsylvania SBA May 27th Awards Luncheon which will be held at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel Pittsburgh. The luncheon is held in conjunction with the 48th annual celebration of National Small Business Week.

“I was the typical geeky kid in school and particularly loved math because it was like solving a puzzle,” VanKirk explained. “I knew my parents couldn’t afford to send me to college so my school counselor sent me to a job fair where I took a math aptitude test and was hired by Westinghouse in three weeks.”

VanKirk, started her career as an engineering technician and soon transposed her problem-solving skills to writing computer programs. She wrote numerous informational tracking systems programs and applied those skills to her courses at Point Park University. Her degree in computer science led to new responsibilities and duties as a computer engineer and project manager, which allowed VanKirk to travel throughout the country.

“I not only converted old software bases to new hardware platforms, but because I interacted with Westinghouse personnel, I was able to fulfill my customer service needs,” she stated. “In 1988, I left Westinghouse to see what the rest of the world had to offer.” VanKirk said for six years she worked for a consulting company marrying her technical abilities with her people skills to find the right resources for each project. However, two children beckoned VanKirk to open the doors to her business within her family home.

“I was able to get them off to school, work all day, pick them up, cook dinner and then work at night,” she said. “During the day I worked with my clients and at night I recruited; eventually I hired my own recruiter.”

For six years she shared office space in two different homes with up to four employees, then rented space for five years, before constructing her own facility for her growing company.

“We offer flexible work schedules for our employees, because I know how important flexibility is for dual-income families,” she explained.

VanKirk recalled a project for Respiraonics in which her team wrote custom software that interacted with their sleep therapy devices. IQ, Inc. also provided a membership management system to a local chamber. Her firm has even supplied engineers to Union Switch and Signal who were working on a control center for the Port Authority’s light-rail system.

“We get quite involved in our projects and place consultants in the field with our clients,” she said. “We develop the software, implement it and even provide training.”

According to Western Pennsylvania SBA District Director Carl Knoblock, VanKirk illustrates that following a passion and vision can correlate into success. “From her early days as a technician she was always solving problems, so it’s no surprise she was able to combine her technological and people skills with a desire to break that glass ceiling,” he said.

VanKirk said she was surprised to learn she was named the Woman-Owned Business of the Year. “I’m very excited and honored,” she said. “I still can’t grasp the significance of the award, but I will.”

Note: If you would like to speak with Barbara VanKirk or Carl Knoblock, Western Pennsylvania SBA district director, please contact Janet Heyl at 412-395-6560, ext. 103

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The U.S. Small Business Administration – helping small businesses start, grow and succeed.

Officer and Senator John Pippy Saluted by SBA for Service to Veterans

News Release


PITTSBURGH DISTRICT OFFICE

Release Date:
May 18, 2011
Contact: Janet Heyl
(412) 395-6560, ext. 103

Release Number: PGH11-15 Janet.Heyl@sba.gov

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Army officer and state Senator John Pippy to be saluted by Small Business Administration for service to veterans

PITTSBURGH – When John Pippy was in high school he applied to the Air Force Academy, hoping to become an officer in the same branch his father served as an enlisted man during the Vietnam War. But the U.S. Army sacked those plans when they recruited the defensive end to play football for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

“West Point talked so much about leadership, I loved it, I’m from a blue-collar town near Boston and have always had a sense of duty and patriotism, not only was my dad in the Air Force but my grandfather was in the Navy during World War II,” Pippy said. “We joke in our family that because I joined the Army we have a complete circle representing the military services.”

Pippy, 40, has since dedicated his adult life to service. For 19 years, he has defended his country as an officer in the U.S. Army and Pennsylvania National Guard and since 1997 he’s served Pennsylvania residents as a state legislator. This month, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) salutes Pippy as Western Pennsylvania’s Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year.

Pippy and eight other local small business owners and advocates will be lauded at the Western Pennsylvania SBA May 27th Awards Luncheon at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel Pittsburgh. The luncheon is held in conjunction with the 48th annual celebration of National Small Business Week.

While majoring in environmental engineering as a cadet, Pippy met his wife who was also an Academy cadet. While home is his house in Moon Township, Pippy has travelled the world as a soldier, from South Korea and Germany to Iraq and Kuwait. His travels have taught him about different cultures and human needs.

"What we in the U.S. take for granted, such as water and electricity, isn’t the norm for a lot of cultures,” he said. “You realize how fortunate you are.” For Pippy, taking care of those who have served has been his stateside mission as a legislator in addition to his duties as a major in the Pennsylvania National Guard.

“About one-half of the individuals who have served in the current war are reservists or members of the National Guard,” Pippy explained. “Their experiences shape the community they live in, so it’s important that we honor all those who have served their country.” In addition to supporting legislation to reduce the capital stock and franchise tax which spurred economic growth and jobs, Pippy also sponsored a Small Business Energy Efficiency grant program.

The program provided a matching grant of up to $7,500 for small businesses to defray the costs purchasing and implementing energy efficient products or systems. Pippy has also provided quality-of-life benefits for Pennsylvania armed service members and retirees, writing legislation to ensure that military personnel receive lower tuition rates when stationed in Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh-based Robert Morris University now offers free tuition to veterans.

“It’s a win-win situation at Robert Morris because non-military students and professors can discover so much from our men and women who have served their country and share their life stories,” he said. Pippy himself said he has learned from retired military personnel he often meets at veteran organizations.

“I was at a Vietnam Memorial function and a gentleman came up to me and told me his brother would never be able to see the memorial because he was wheelchair bound and could'nt travel,” Pippy explained. “We couldn’t find a DVD, so we took a film crew to D.C. and a park ranger hosted a tour.” Pippy said DVDs were burnt and the tours, along with a Korean Memorial tour, now are available online.

According to Western Pennsylvania SBA District Director Carl Knoblock, Pippy serves as an example of why veterans are so valuable to their community.

“I commend and thank him for serving his country and for continually improving the lives of military personnel, both active and retired, in Pennsylvania.”

Pippy said it was a privilege and honor to be selected as the SBA’s veteran champion.

“I think it’s great that the SBA recognizes service to veterans,” he said. “I was just doing my job [as a senator and officer] and will stay in the military as long as they have a job for me,” he added. “I can’t imagine not being part of a military family.”

Note: If you would like to speak with Sen. John Pippy or Carl Knoblock, Western Pennsylvania SBA district director, please contact Janet Heyl at 412-395-6560, ext. 103

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The U.S. Small Business Administration – helping small businesses start, grow and succeed.

Empowering Entrepreneurs Theme for SBA National Business Forum

Small Business Administration

News Release


PRESS OFFICE



Release Date: May 16, 2011 Contact: Cecelia Taylor (202) 401-3059

Release Number: 11-32 Internet Address: www.sba.gov/news

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SBA Kicks Off National Small Business Week 2011

In Washington, D.C.

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Business Forums on Social Media, Exporting and Strategies for High Growth, High Impact Firms Free to the Public

WASHINGTON – The nation’s top entrepreneurs will gather this week to be recognized for their entrepreneurship, growth and success during the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week celebration, May 18-20, 2011, in Washington, D.C.

Under the theme "Empowering Entrepreneurs,” the three-day event at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Conference Center will highlight business owners from 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, whose business achievements have contributed to job creation, the economy and to the nation’s recovery. The National Small Business Person of the Year will be named from this group on Friday, May 20.

Awards will also be presented for notable achievements in disaster recovery, government procurement, small business advocacy, and to top-performing SBA resource and lending partners.

Featured Speakers at National Small Business Week will include:

Administrator Karen Mills, U.S. Small Business Administration

Deputy Administrator Marie Johns, U.S. Small Business Administration

Valerie B. Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama and Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island)

U.S. Sen. Mary L. Landrieu (D-Louisiana)

Gail McGovern, President and CEO, American Red Cross

Cathy Hughes, Founder and Chairperson of Radio One Inc., and Chair of SBA’s Advisory Council on Underserved Communities

Steve Case, Co-founder of AOL and Chair of Startup America Partnership

Bill Rancic, Reality Show Star, Executive Producer and Author

Seth Goldman, President and TeaEO, Honest Tea

National Small Business Week will also feature a series of small business forums that are open to the public. The forums address real-world topics that affect small businesses, including Growing Your Business While on the Go, Social Media, Exporting Tools for Success and Strategies for High Growth, High Impact Firms.

The public can register for the free forums onsite starting at 1:00 p.m. EDT Wednesday, May 18. Events during National Small Business Week can be viewed virtually through SBA’s free, live webcasting accessible online at www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com/webcast.php. Visit www.NationalSmallBusinessWeek.com to register for forums, and for the full Small Business Week schedule. A list of the 2011 state winners can be found online at

http://nationalsmallbusinessweek.com/index.php?page=winners.

National Small Business Week 2011 Schedule of Events

(Subject to Change)

Wednesday, May 18

1:00 pm – 6:00 pm Registration Open

Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Pre-Function Area

Sponsored by Microsoft

2:30 pm – 4:30 pm Growing Your Business While on the Go - A Road Warrior's Perspective

Mandarin Oriental, Oriental Ballroom

Sponsored by AT&T and SCORE

Speaker: Bill Rancic

Thursday, May 19

8:00 am – 5:00 pm Registration Open

Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Pre-Function Area

Sponsored by Microsoft

8:00 am – 5:00 pm Cyber Café Open

Mandarin Oriental, Hillwood Room

Sponsored by Google

8:30 am – 9:45 am National Awards Breakfast Honoring Procurement Award Winners

Mandarin Oriental, Grand Ballroom

Sponsored by Raytheon

10:00 am – 11:15 am Forum #1: Social Media: Get Your Business Connected

Mandarin Oriental, Oriental Ballroom

Sponsored by Intuit

11:30 am –12:45 pm Forum #2: Strategies for High Growth, High Impact Firms

Mandarin Oriental, Oriental Ballroom

Sponsored by Careerbuilder

Speaker: Seth Goldman

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Phoenix Awards Luncheon

Mandarin Oriental, Grand Ballroom

Sponsored by Sam’s Club

Speaker: Sen. Jack Reed

2:30 pm – 5:00 pm Networking Time – Visit Sponsor Tables, SBA Officials and the Cyber Cafe

Mandarin Oriental Exhibit Areas

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Congressional Reception

Hart Senate Office Building, Room SH-902

Speaker: Sen. Mary L. Landrieu

Friday, May 20

8:00 am – 2:00 pm Registration Open

Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Pre-Function Area

Sponsored by Microsoft

8:00 am – 5:00 pm Cyber Café Open

Mandarin Oriental, Hillwood Room

Sponsored by Google

8:30 am – 9:45 am Breakfast Honoring the Entrepreneurial Development and Lender Award Winners

Mandarin Oriental, Grand Ballroom

Sponsored by Northrop Grumman

Speaker: Steve Case

10:00 am – 12:00 pm Forum #3: Exporting Tools for Success

Mandarin Oriental, Oriental Ballroom

12:30 pm – 2:30 pm National Awards Luncheon Honoring State Small Business Winners

Mandarin Oriental, Grand Ballroom

Sponsored by Sam’s Club

Speakers: SBA Administrator Mills, Valerie B. Jarrett

2:30 pm – 4:00 pm Networking Time – Visit Sponsor Tables, SBA Officials and the Cyber Café

Mandarin Oriental Exhibit Areas

7:30 pm – 11:00 pm Champion Award Winners Gala

Mandarin Oriental, Grand Ballroom

Sponsored by Visa and Avaya

Speakers: Deputy Administrator Johns, Cathy Hughes

Media Contacts:
Dennis Byrne
dennis.byrne@sba.gov
(202) 205-6567

Cecelia Taylor

cecelia.taylor@sba.gov
 (202) 401-3059



Small Business Week 2011 sponsors and cosponsors include: Association of Small Business Development Companies, AT&T, AVAYA, CareerBuilder, Dun & Bradstreet, Google, International Franchise Association, Intuit, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, National Association of Development Companies, National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders, National Association of Small Business Investment Companies, National Association for the Self-Employed, National Small Business Association, Nomadic Display, Northrop Grumman, Office Depot, Raytheon, Sam's Club, SCORE, The Neat Company, Verio, Visa, the Wall Street Journal, and

Women Impacting Public Policy.

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s participation in this cosponsored activity does not constitute an express or implied endorsement of any cosponsor’s, donor’s, grantee’s, contractor’s or participant’s opinions, products, or services. All SBA programs and cosponsored programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least 2 weeks in advance, by contacting sbw@sba.gov. Cosponsorship Authorization #SBW2011.
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Washington Wild Things' Chris Sidick Named Young Entrepreneur of the Year

News Release


PITTSBURGH DISTRICT OFFICE

Release Date: May 13, 2011 Contact: Janet Heyl (412) 395-6560, ext. 103

Release Number: PGH11-10 Janet.Heyl@sba.gov

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Hometown minor league franchise player hits home run –

as SBA’s regional and local Young Entrepreneur of the Year

WASHINGTON, PA – Centerfielder Chris Sidick owns virtually every offensive record for the Washington Wild Things baseball team, including games, at-bats, hits, runs, triples, walks and stolen bases.

This May Sidick hit a double with the U.S. Small Business Administration when, as sole managing member of C-Side Sports Academy, LLC, he was selected as SBA Region III Young Entrepreneur of the Year and the Western Pennsylvania District Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Like the other 68 district winners, his nomination was forwarded to his regional office – in this case Region 3, which comprises 7 districts; Delaware, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia – where he became the regional winner.

Sidick has been playing baseball and football, and has wrestled, since he was four years old. However, the high-school standout only received a letter of interest to play football from Marietta College in Ohio. “I played four years of football, but also walked onto the baseball team and was selected All-American in both,” he said. “I majored in business management with a minor in sports management.”

After graduating in 2005, Sidick was approached by the Pittsburgh River Rats to play arena football and the Washington Wild Things. He signed with the Wild Things and has played centerfield/leadoff hitter ever since. He currently holds the distinction of being the only local player on the roster.

However, Sidick noted that baseball is only a summer occupation and soon he found himself without revenue for eight months of the year. “It was my third year out of college and I said to myself that I had to find a way to make some money during the offseason,” he stated. “One fan asked me to train his kid and that snowballed into five kids. I truly enjoyed helping the young players, but I had nowhere to train them.”

He asked his parents if he could use their garage and invested $700 for a batting cage.

“I had to open up a credit card and this was a huge investment for me because I was only living on $20 month and saving the rest…living with my parents and driving my grandmother’s car,” Sidick said. “I’ve always had great coaches throughout my career, so teaching was easy for me – paying for the batting cage was hard.”

By the next year, his clientele was growing and Sidick moved from his parents’ garage to a rented garage that cost him $1,000 each month. But he saw an opportunity to fix the garage for a rent reduction and was given a batting cage. With almost 50 kids to coach, Sidick turned to the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to formulate a business plan and rent yet a larger space.

“During that summer when I played ball, I saved every penny and wrote the business plan by hand during our bus rides; we play 96 games in 100 days so I had the time,” he explained. “My goal was to get a $50,000 loan.”

Sidick’s vision for his baseball complex was a large field complimented by two batting cages.

Without a loan, he spent $80,000 on netting and turf by using a small credit line and bargaining power. Meanwhile, he still was responsible for rent, but his complex was filled once again and he began looking for a larger facility

“I had college, high school and youth teams renting out the space but I hated paying rent, so I revamped my business plan to get $1 million from a bank and was approved for almost that amount,” Sidick said. “I needed land to build my new facility, so I went door-to-door asking people if they would sell me their land.”

Not only did Sidick find property, but also an investor. “I was approached by a financier who wanted to be a partner, and that made sense because since I started my business, I’ve been the plumber, the janitor, the electrician and the tax man,” he explained. “A partner allows me to concentrate on training and marketing.”

Sidick is awaiting approval for his new facility, which would house a full-size NCAA regulation infield and offer additional sports such as football, soccer and laser tag. “This will be at 27,000 sq. ft. facility, and utilizing the large turf area is limited only by my imagination.”

Sidick admitted that winning an award from the SBA was gratifying because in four years his business has thrived in a bad economy. “It was great to win,” he added, “I don’t consider my job work and love talking to kids about sports and staying healthy.”

According to Carl Knoblock, Western Pennsylvania SBA district director, Sidick’s success is linked to his passion for baseball. He’s doing something he loves and is helping young people hone their skills in a sport they love,” Knoblock said. “He’s paid attention to his competition and the needs of athletes in the region and created a following for his services.”

Sidick and eight other local small business owners and advocates will be lauded at the Western Pennsylvania SBA May 27th Awards Luncheon which will be held at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel Pittsburgh. The luncheon is held in conjunction with the 48th annual celebration of National Small Business Week. Once the festivities begin, the public can “attend” Small Business Week events virtually, via the SBA’s streaming video on the Web at http://www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com/webcast.php

Note: If you would like to speak with Chris Sidick or Carl Knoblock, Western Pennsylvania SBA district director, please contact Janet Heyl at 412-395-6560, ext. 103

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SBA Honors Eileen Melvin, Small Business Exporter of the Year

Release Date: May 12, 2011 Contact: Janet Heyl (412) 395-6560, ext. 103

Release Number: PGH11-09 Janet.Heyl@sba.gov

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SBA honors Small Business Exporter of Year

Local woman embraces technology and quality craftsmanship,

wins SBA’s regional and local award

JOHNSTOWN, PA – Not many families would acquire a portion of a struggling manufacturer to ensure economic development near their hometown, but that’s exactly what Eileen Melvin and her immediate family did three years ago when they bought into United Metal Fabricators.

“For a decade I worked as a consultant to help spur the local economy,” Melvin explained. “We [my family] thought our purchase and involvement in UMF would be true economic development and save jobs.”

Since she joined the board of directors in 2008 and was subsequently named president and CEO the following year, Melvin has worked to preserve the core of UMFs assets – the workforce and quality craftsmanship – while building a team to infuse technological advances into processing and sales procedures.

In May, Melvin will be honored for her economic efforts by the U.S. Small Business Administration as Small Business Exporter of the Year for both SBA’s Region III and the Western Pennsylvania District. Like the 68 other district winners, her nomination was forwarded to the regional SBA competition (Region 3 covers 7 districts: Delaware, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia) where she became regional winner. According to Melvin, UMF, as a staple manufacturer of quality medical supply products, has a rich history. Its humble beginnings clearly depict the work ethic of Johnstown residents.

“UMF was founded by Joe Romano, whose family was en route to New Jersey when the father got hit by a streetcar. Joe had to support the family by working at a medical supply firm, where he swept floors and grinded metal, eventually becoming a vice president,” she explained. “He decided to start his own health products manufacturing firm and with help from his extended family he was able to secure financing. Within years his successful managerial style closed down his competitor.”

Melvin said that about 20 years ago her family became involved with UMF due to her own father’s involvement as legal advisor to the company.

“My family has a health care background. I have siblings who are doctors and my background is in public administration and health care – an ever-changing industry that effects everyone, everyday. I am fascinated by the challenge and opportunity to meet the needs of healthcare providers in service to their patients,” she added.

Melvin explained that while UMF offered a line of quality products consisting of examination tables, stainless steel equipment and a painted line, such as cabinets, the world was changing and UMF did not keep pace with technological and manufacturing advances.

“They didn’t invest in plant equipment and technology, which would track efficiency, expenses, labor and marketing. They didn’t utilize the internet effectively to sell products,” she explained. “But UMF produces excellent products featuring high-grade steel and quality craftsmanship.

To keep pace with purchasing umbrellas that offer exclusive prices to members, Melvin and her team pursued a Group Purchasing Organization contract to sell medical equipment and supplies to members of Novation group. They were awarded a three-year contract that serves hospitals and healthcare systems throughout the U.S. and through partnerships with the Commonwealth and the Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission, UMF increased their exporting by 62 percent with a concentration in Saudi Arabia where Melvin recently participated in a Trade Mission.

“They [the people of Saudi Arabia] want to model their health-care system after ours. And our partnerships enabled us to meet our clients and better understand the people and hospitals in the Middle East,” she added. “Now, across our country and the world, newborn babies are checked on UMF pediatric tables. As they grow up, they are examined on UMF exam tables. And any broken arm or minor surgery will be cared for on a UMF power procedure chair.”

Melvin said UMF utilized the SBA for a loan to go green in their painted cabinet line, changing from a wet spraying paint system with emissions to an eco-friendly powder-spray finish. Their approach earned UMF a Green Award from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Carl Knoblock, Western Pennsylvania SBA district director, said Melvin’s success is linked to her family’s passion for healthcare coupled with her commitment to keep the core principles of UMF intact. “She is perfect at the helm as she is fascinated with health and related issues yet knows that work ethic and quality are as important as sales for continued growth,” he said. Melvin added while she is honored to be the recipient of the Small Business Exporter Award, it is truly a reflection of the employees and board of directors.

“All of us at UMF are excited about this award,” she said. “It is an entire team effort to produce the excellent quality products that have earned UMF the positive reputation we enjoy in international markets – so credit belongs to every member of our team.”

Melvin and eight other local small business owners and advocates will be lauded at the Western Pennsylvania SBA May 27th Awards Luncheon which will be held at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel Pittsburgh. The luncheon is held in conjunction with the 48th annual celebration of National Small Business Week. Once the festivities begin, the public can “attend” Small Business Week events virtually, via the SBA’s streaming video on the Web at http://www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com/webcast.php.

Note: If you would like to speak with Eileen Melvin or Carl Knoblock, Western Pennsylvania SBA district director, please contact Janet Heyl at 412-395-6560, ext. 103

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The U.S. Small Business Administration – helping small businesses start, grow and succeed.

For Businessman Joe Santelli, Giving Back is an Act of Glass

Release Date: May 12, 2011 Contact: Janet Heyl (412) 395-6560, ext. 103


Release Number: PGH11-08 Janet.Heyl@sba.gov

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Local man vies for SBA National Small Business Person award

MONESSEN, PA -- For homeowners throughout the country, as well as employees of Santelli’s Tempered Glass and residents of Monessen, Joe Santelli certainly is a “glass” act.

In May, Santelli, 55, will travel to Washington, D.C. to compete for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) title of Small Business Person of the Year. That honor will be announced during the 48th annual celebration of National Small Business Week. Santelli began his quest at the local level, when he was chosen as the Western Pennsylvania District Office Small Business Person of the Year. The nomination package was then forwarded to the regional office in Philadelphia to compete with their local winner.

Santelli, president of Santelli Tempered Glass, has been involved with glass and window industry for years, cultivating his knowledge with three different companies. However, it was his exploration into tempered glass that helped Santelli change the lives of residents throughout the United States and became the catalyst for his selection as the Western Pennsylvania and state Small Business Person of the Year.

It might be hard to picture, but tempered glass won’t shatter when broken. Instead, it breaks into harmless, pebble-sized pieces.

“We’ve all seen kids run into all-glass storm doors thinking they are open and get hurt. For reasons like this, in the 1960s tempered glass was mandated for side and back windows of automobiles and in the 1970s it became the standard for homes,” Santelli explained. “It’s primarily used for front and storm doors, side [light] panels and picture windows.”

The glass arrives at Santelli’s plant in large sheets, where the sharp edges and corners of the glass are smoothed, custom-cut to the window manufacturer’s specifications and washed.

“The glass is then put on rollers, where it’s heated to 1120 degrees Fahrenheit for a few seconds and this releases any pressure in the glass,” Santelli explained. “It then is cooled very rapidly, known as the quenching process. Air is blown on the top and bottom surfaces of the glass sheets which introduces a uniform pressure.” According to Santelli, the even pressure is what causes the glass to break into tiny pieces no larger than the size of a dime.

“It’s six times stronger than [standard] floated glass because of that uniform pressure, so you could throw a baseball at a tempered window all day and it won’t break,” he said proudly. “We actually use a sledgehammer and break glass here, every hour on the hour, to make sure it’s tempered.”

Santelli said he’s always been interested in glass and for 15 years sold tempering furnaces to companies throughout the United States and Canada.

“I consulted with a friend and colleague who has a highly successful tempered glass company out West. Buying a used furnace I had originally sold him we became partners, establishing the company as the first tempered outfit of its kind east of the Mississippi,” he said. “Eventually I was able to buy him out, but gained a wealth of knowledge about customer service. His company guarantees a 24-hour turnaround time on orders and so does Santelli Tempered Glass.”

Santelli’s tempered glass and customer service has become so successful that he has opened two additional plants in Indiana and Florida. He said that even though the country is in a recession, energy tax credits have both boosted sales and decreased energy costs for customers.

While he’s helped eliminate childhood glass injuries in Pennsylvania and neighboring states, Santelli has also helped fight unemployment and hunger in the former steel hamlet of Monessen.

“We’ve got a great work force here, people who were looking for good jobs in the Mon Valley,” he said.

Santelli said he was shocked when, while driving through town one Saturday, he noticed a mile-long line of residents who were waiting for the local food bank to open. Since then, he has made donations to that food bank, sponsored a Habitat for Humanity golf outing and donated tempered glass for Habitat for Humanity projects and ABC-TV’s “Extreme Makeover Home Edition.”

According to Western Pennsylvania SBA District Director Carl Knoblock, Santelli truly exemplifies what it means to be a small business person of the year. “He knows his product, the industry and how to position his company for continued growth,” Knoblock said. “And most importantly, he’s remembered to give back to the community.”

Santelli said he knew he had been nominated as small business person of the year, but never realized he might win.

“My first reaction was surprise, and I thought ‘this is so cool,’” he remarked. “I’ve been fortunate to have so many great partners to share the excitement with, it’s been really exciting.”

Santelli and eight other local small business owners and advocates will be lauded at the Western Pennsylvania SBA May 27th Awards Luncheon, which will be held at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel Pittsburgh.

Note: If you would like to speak with Joe Santelli or Carl Knoblock, Western Pennsylvania SBA district director, please contact Janet Heyl at 412-395-6560, ext. 103

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The U.S. Small Business Administration – helping small businesses start, grow and succeed.

SBA Seeks Nominations for Awards Week

News Release


PITTSBURGH DISTRICT OFFICE


Release Date: October 12, 2010

Contact: Janet Heyl
(412) 395-6560
Janet.Heyl@sba.gov

Release Number: 11-01/PGH

Local nominations needed for annual Small Business Week Awards, help showcase a small business owner or advocate



PITTSBURGH – It’s time for a small business owner or advocate to take center stage.

Small businesses owners who are helping drive Western Pennsylvania’s economy can be nominated for the prestigious U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) annual Small Business Week awards competition.

Since 1963, the SBA has set aside a week – National Small Business Week – to honor the nation’s small business owners and advocates. Awards ceremonies, held on both local and national levels, are an ideal way for community leaders to honor small business owners who often are touted as the backbone of the nation’s economy.

For more information on the nomination process, including all necessary forms, please contact the Western Pennsylvania SBA District Office at 412-395-6560.

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The U.S. Small Business Administration – helping small businesses start, grow and succeed.

SBA Score Champion of the Year Also Career Soldier

News Release


PITTSBURGH DISTRICT OFFICE



Release Date: May 11, 2010 Contact: Janet Heyl (412) 395-6560, ext. 103

Janet.Heyl@sba.gov

Release Number: 10-13/PGH



Local commissioner SCORES win as Western Pennsylvania SBA Volunteer of the Year Award



GREENSBURG, PA – For almost 28 years Col. (Ret.) Charles Anderson served his country as a decorated officer in the Marine Corps, with tours of duty as a pilot in Japan, Korea, the Philippines, and holding executive positions at the Pentagon and Cherry Point, N.C. But for the past eight years, Anderson has stayed grounded lending his business expertise as a counselor and motivational speaker for the Westmoreland Chapter of SCORE – Counselor’s to America’s to Small Businesses.



Anderson, a Westmoreland County commissioner, will be honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as the 2010 Western Pennsylvania SCORE Volunteer of the Year.



Anderson and eight other local small business owners and advocates will be lauded at the Western Pennsylvania SBA May 28th Awards Luncheon which will be held at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel Pittsburgh. The luncheon is held in conjunction with the 47th annual celebration of National Small Business Week.



Carl Knoblock, Western Pennsylvania SBA district director, said that Anderson is an example of how one never stops serving their fellow countrymen. “Here is a decorated Marine Corps colonel, who is a commissioner of a large and growing county, and he still sets time aside to counsel prospective small business owners,” Knoblock said. “His SCORE clients are benefiting from his business and government experience, as well as his dedication.”



Anderson started his career at the tender age of four or five working at his grandfather’s store, Anderson’s Market. “I would sit on the floor with a big bag of potatoes and put those potatoes into small, five-pound bags,” he said. “It was work, but like a game to me.”



As he got older, Anderson’s duties increased and soon he was cutting meats, delivering food and learning the day-to-day operations of running a grocery store. Majoring in business at Waynesburg University, Anderson thought he would stay in the retail arena until he entered the Marine Corps as an officer.



“I was a supply officer because I thought it would enhance my business skills, but I really wanted to be a pilot,” he stated. After serving his three years, Anderson went back to the grocery business but never was able to let go of his dream of flying.





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‘I took flight classes at the (former) Latrobe Airport, and loved it,” he said. “I sent a letter to the Marines asking them if I could come back and enter flight school.” When he found out that at age 26 he was considered too old to fly, Anderson took to the hallways of the Washington, D.C. Marine Headquarters to tell his tale to anyone who would listen.



After three days, one officer granted Anderson the right to compete for Navy/Marine flight school where only the top three candidates were awarded the chance to fly jets. The spirited Anderson made sure he was prepared. “I hired myself a tutor to prepare and study vectors and trigonometry and got a flight physical,” he said. “During flight school, I carried around a model plane. Sure, everyone made fun of me, but guess what? I was the third jet pilot selected.”



Anderson relocated back to Westmoreland County in 2002 as a retiree and joined a host of organizations in order to give back and better the community – SCORE was one of those organizations. He said he uses his flight analogy to tell people never to take “no” for an answer, to set high goals and prepare for them.



“I tell my SCORE clients to write a business plan and set a goal,” he explained. “They (clients) need to go through the process of what they want to do, how to get there and become dedicated to achieving that goal.”



While Anderson is proud of his selection as the SCORE Volunteer of the Year, he said the award really is for the entire chapter.



“We have such great volunteers at Westmoreland SCORE all who had successful careers, giving up their time to make the community a better place – just like I wanted to do,” he stated. “They are so dedicated it makes my eyes want to water.”



Note: If you would like to speak with Commissioner Charles Anderson or Carl Knoblock, Western Pennsylvania SBA district director, please contact Janet Heyl at 412-395-6560, ext. 103



The U.S. Small Business Administration – helping small businesses start, grow and succeed.



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Western Pennsylvania SBA Exporter of the Year Awarded in Southwest District

News Release


PITTSBURGH DISTRICT OFFICE



Release Date: May 10, 2010 Contact: Janet Heyl (412) 395-6560, ext. 103

Janet.Heyl@sba.gov

Release Number: 10-12/PGH



Local forestry company president logs in win as Western Pennsylvania SBA Exporter of the Year Award



BEDFORD, PA – When Thomas Mereen was in college, he swapped his chemical engineering classes for economics. “I hated engineering, I got good grades, but it just didn’t excite me,” he stated. “But I loved macroeconomics…I wanted to trade goods all around the world.”



Fast-forward a few decades, and Mereen has been able to do just that. He combined his love of the outdoors with microeconomics as log buyer and president of Bedford Forest Products – a Pennsylvania log purchasing company.



Mereen will be honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as the 2010 Western Pennsylvania Exporter of the Year.



Mereen and eight other local small business owners and advocates will be lauded at the Western Pennsylvania SBA May 28th Awards Luncheon which will be held at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel Pittsburgh. The luncheon is held in conjunction with the 47th annual celebration of National Small Business Week.



Twenty-three years ago, Mereen arrived in Bedford by way of Syracuse, N.Y., with a working knowledge of lumber and milling. He honed his hardwood expertise working at a handful of lumber and veneer mills. When he suddenly found himself unemployed five years ago, Mereen decided to contact a veneer company and offer to purchase wood on commission for their products. In fact, Mereen found there indeed was a market for his forest facts. He began his business by purchasing trees for both small and large wood-product manufacturers.



“I buy the standing trees here and send them to China, I’ve also sent logs to Vietnam, Indonesia, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Spain, Germany and France,” he explained. “I spend time in the woods here physically looking for pieces of wood my customers want while maintaining total quality control.”



In addition to personally purchasing trees for his clients, Mereen set out to pioneer the milling process for his remote clients. To ensure quality, Mereen remains on-site at a local saw mill where the purchased trees are cut to the customer specifications. “I do this so we can focus on our clients’ needs and expectations,” he explained. “My total customer service allows them to remain competitive in this very challenging world-wide market.”



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Once cut, the fresh lumber is put back together and shipped worldwide. His customers then make wood products and, in turn, export those items around the world.



Mereen said he believes embracing today’s technology has enabled him to not only send and receive orders from around the world, but, also to become paperless. He’s reduced overhead costs associated with inventory equipment – a savings he passes along to his customers.



“Technology allows me to travel about 185 miles each day to personally purchase trees for each customer,” he said.



Mereen said he’s always looking for multiple streams of income. “For instance, I purchase hickory for a gentleman in Germany and have it cut for him; he then makes axe handles out of the hickory.” But one forest project took Mereen by surprise and this year he plans to dabble in the arena of high-end custom furniture.



“I never thought I would end up selling furniture, but I went to see how this furniture in Italy is made and it is beautiful – especially the quality and finishing,” Mereen said. “I plan to have a virtual store and market the furniture to designers and architects all over the world.”



Carl Knoblock, Western Pennsylvania SBA district director, said that Mereen’s log purchasing enterprise shows niche businesses can be cost-effective and allow for tremendous growth. “Mills have closed and he’s using his knowledge to purchase for specialty areas like veneer and axe handles,” Knoblock stated. “He’s also not afraid to branch out and look into other avenues, because there is a huge market for solid-wood furniture. You just need to buy it in bulk and take it globally.”



Meree, maintains he has a passion for small business.



“This award truly is an honor and I’m proud to be the recipient.”





Note: If you would like to speak with Tom Mereen or Carl Knoblock, Western Pennsylvania SBA district director, please contact Janet Heyl at 412-395-6560, ext. 103



The U.S. Small Business Administration – helping small businesses start, grow and succeed.



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