Director Terri Denison, the head of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Georgia District Office announces the winners of the 2017 National Small Business Week awards for Georgia.
 
“These awards aren’t just about recognizing business success, they also recognize the efforts of small business advocates that empower entrepreneurs,” Denison said. “We believe that small businesses are the economic engine driving our economy and people like these award winners are the spark plugs powering that engine.”
 
The winners will be honored at a luncheon, hosted by the Georgia Lenders Quality Circle, scheduled for May 2, at Villa Christina in Atlanta. To learn more about National Small Business Week in Georgia go to https://www.sba.gov/ga.
 
The 2017 awardees are:
 
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
William Cross III, CEO
Vasocorp Inc.
Waco, Georgia
 
Financial Services Champion
Sherry Kinard, vice president
Brand Bank
Atlanta, Georgia
 
Small Business Media Advocate
Dana Barrett
Dana Barrett Radio Show
Atlanta, Georgia
 
LGBT Business Advocate
Suzanne Baugh, CEO
Q&A Entertainment Inc.
East Point, Georgia
 
Minority Small Business Champion
Shawn Bromell, president
Pro Cutters Lawnscapes Inc.
Conyers, Georgia
 
Family-Owned Business
Ray Crosby, CEO
Week’s Honey Farm
Omega, Georgia
 
Veteran Small Business Champion
Jeremy Horstman, director
Georgia Southern University Veterans Business Outreach Center
Statesboro, Georgia
 
Women Business Champion
Lisa Winton, president
Winton Machine Co.
Lawrenceville, Georgia
 
Home-based Business Champion
James Foster, president
Georgia Home-based Business Chamber of Commerce
Stockbridge, Georgia
 
Since 1963, the president has issued a proclamation calling for the first week in May to be celebrated as National Small Business Week. There are national events planned in Washington, D.C., New York City, Indianapolis, Dallas and Fresno, Calif., commemorating this special time.