PRESS OFFICE
Release Date: August 19, 2010
Contact: Cecelia Taylor (202) 401-3059
Release Number: 10-44
Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news

SBA Hosts Mentor-Protegé Conference as part of MED Week 2010
10 Small Businesses vie for National Minority Small Business Person of the Year

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration will host a mentor-protégé small business matchmaking session Aug. 23 just prior to the 28th annual National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week conference, which runs Aug. 25-27, 2010 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.

During the mentor-protégé conference, small business owners can connect with mentors – virtually and face-to-face – and learn about government contracting, financial, technical and management assistance, as well as joint-venture opportunities.
The day-long conference will also include workshops on “Succeeding in a Tough Construction Market” and “SBA Surety Bond.” Small businesses interested in participating in the matchmaking events can register at sba.mybusinessmatches.com. For more information on other MED Week workshops, or to register for the conference, visit www.medweek.gov.
MED Week is a collaboration with the Minority Business Development Agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the SBA. The theme for this year’s MED Week event is “Strategies for Growth and Competitiveness in the Global Economy.” The conference will focus on helping minority small businesses expand their operations and establish a presence in the global marketplace through exporting.

Another event highlight will be the recognition of the National Minority Small Business Person of the Year. The national winner will be chosen from 10 regional winners representing Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, Michigan, Texas, Nebraska, Utah, California and Washington. Regional award winners have businesses that offer services ranging from environmental technology solutions to recruiting medical professionals who work for the military and other public institutions.
“This year’s MED Week event offers an opportunity to celebrate the positive impact minority small business owners have on their communities across the country as well as an opportunity for small businesses to learn critical tips for taking their business global,” said SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills.

In addition to announcing the national minority small business award winner, SBA will present the SBA Administrator’s Leadership award to Jeanette Brown of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. The 8(a) Graduate Firm of the Year award will be presented to Edward O. Watts, president of Watts Architecture & Engineering, P.C., of Buffalo, N.Y.
The 10 Regional Minority Small Business Persons of the Year are:
REGION I
Janet Ceddia, President
Security Construction Services (SCS), Inc.
Boston, Mass.

REGION II
Shandra Roberson
S & W Contracting of Western New York, Inc.
Buffalo, N.Y.

REGION III
Michael E. Melo
ITA International, LLC
Yorktown, Va

REGION IV
Melissa A. Leifheit
Military & Federal Construction Company, Inc.
Jacksonville, N.C.

REGION V
Perry Mehta, President
FutureNet Group, Inc.
Detroit, Mich.

REGION VI
Veronica Edwards
InGenesis, Inc.
San Antonio, Texas

REGION VII
Lance G. Morgan
All Native Services Company
Winnnebago, Neb.

REGION VIII
Denise Mitchell, Managing Member
Advanced Solutions Group, LLC
Kaysville, Utah

REGION IX
Marty Rapozo, President
Abide International
Sonoma, Calif.

REGION X
Patrick L. Hughes
Owner/Managing Member
Hughes Group LLC
Lakewood, Wash.

For more details on this year’s MED Week conference, please visit www.sba.gov/medweek2010, or www.medweek.gov.
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