SBA Region 4 News To Share

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. June 2012 SBA Region 4 Monthly News Brought to you by the U.S. Small Business Administration Cassius Butts, Regional Administrator Looking to Network and Learn From Other Small Businesses? Join the SBA Community! The SBA has created an interactive website, SBA Community, where small business owners can communicate with each other, post questions, share best and worst practices, post blogs, read blogs, and much more.  SBA Community is an interactive website designed for the small business owner.  Although it has been in existense for some time, I want to remind small business owners that this great resource is available and it is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Not  only can you learn from other small business owners, you can read blogs posted on many different topics from SBA's leadership, SBA Administrator Karen Mills and Deputy Administrator Marie Johns.  I encourage you to visit the site today. Visit www.sba.gov/community SBA Region 4 Employee to Highlight Patrice Marie Dozier                             SBA Program Support Assistant Mrs. Patrice Dozier is passionate about serving the needs of  small business customers.  As the first point of contact to all levels of the general public, she projects a positive attitude and creates a client-focused environment.  Within her level of responsibility, she identifies the various needs of our customers and directs clients to the appropriate SBA resources.  Her work affects the accuracy and reliability of further small business processes.  Mrs. Dozier begins her day with the end goal of taking 'best care' of the people we serve at the SBA Georgia District Office. The outcome of Mrs. Patrice Dozier's service has resulted in the kind of customer satisfaction required to meet the needs of small business clients, thereby contributing to the Goals of the SBA Georgia District Office.  What's Happening in Your SBA District? Alabama District Office Thomas Todt, District Director The SBA Alabama District Office presented the SBA Region IV Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award to the Auburn University Small Business Development Center on June 1. District Director Tom Todt presented the award to Center Director Dr. Jackie DiPofi during a ceremony at the College of Business on the university campus. The award recognizes the work the center does as champion of small business and in helping promote economic development in the area. Dr. Bill C. Hardgrave, Dean of the Business School and Professor of the College of Business told those in attendance, "We are pleased to have our SBDC recognized by the SBA for this prestigious honor. Dr. DiPofi and her staff have tirelessly served the small business community for many years and it is nice to have her peer organization acknowledge this commitment and contribution." Florida District Office- North Wilfredo J. Gonzalez Dr. Winslow Sargeant, Chief Counsel for Advocacy visited the North Florida region and participated in discussions with small business owners and toured local businesses.  As Chief Counsel for Advocacy, Dr. Sargeant speaks on behalf of small businesses within the federal government. At his JAX Chamber appearance, Dr. Sargeant discussed his office's work, its research and work on regulatory issues as well as small businesses' vital role in Florida's economy and the nation's. As a former entrepreneur, Dr. Sargeant offered a unique perspective on the challenges of starting and growing a small business. For more information, please visit www.sba.gov/advocacy. Florida District Office- South Francisco "Pancho" Marrero, District Director South Florida District Announces Three Management Promotions The South Florida District Office is pleased to announce that three South Florida District Office employees were recently promoted to management positions.  Jonel Hein, a 21-year veteran of SBA is the new Deputy District Director.  Jeffery Campbell, a 32-year veteran of SBA was promoted to Assistant District Director for 8(a)/Business Development.  And, Miguel Gonzalez, who started with the SBA Disaster program in 1985, was promoted to Assistant District Director for Lender Relations.  With their vast experience helping entrepreneurs,  these promotions will be a benefit small business customers and staff alike. Georgia District Office Terri Denison, District Director The Georgia District Office was pleased to host SBA Administrator Karen Mills in Atlanta recently.  Administrator Mills participated in a CNBC Town Hall Taping titled "Getting Back to Business" alongside Steve Case of the Startup America Partnership, Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, Tristan Walker, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Andreesen Horowitz and former Director of Business Development for Foursquare, and Kevin O'Leary, a Venture Capitalist; Brian Williams was the host. Administrator Mills then visited two local small businesses in Atlanta's Midtown, The New York Butcher Shoppe and Arden's Garden; both recipients of SBA-backed loans. Kentucky District Office Ralph Ross, District Director Veterans' Entrepreneurship Event A free event for active and reserve duty military personnel, veterans and their spouses who wish to explore entrepreneurship opportunities will be held in Louisville, KY, on Friday, July 27 from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm.  This event will be held in conjunction with a Veterans' Job Fair to be held by U.S. Congressman John Yarmuth (3rd Congressional District) and his staff.  Both events will be at the United Auto Worker's Local 862, Gettelfinger Hall, at 3000 Fern Valley Road in Louisville.  The job fair will be from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm that day. SBA  staff will be presenting on many topics of interest and will be on hand for assistance. For more information www.sba.gov/ky. Mississippi District Office Janita Stewart, District Director With the participation of a host of resource partners including the PTACs, federal buying agencies, large business prime contractors, state agencies, SBA top lenders, other vital resource organizations, along with the Office of Government Contracting Area III, and SBA HUBZone Office staff, the Mississippi District and Gulfport Branch Offices coordinated a successful HUBZone Program Outreach Conference.  The day-long training session included HUBZone firms giving testimonials as to their experiences with SBA's HUBZone Program.  There were 161 in attendance.  Also, The Mississippi District Office is finalizing plans for the 2012 Mississippi Small Business Week Awards Reception which will be an evening reception held on Thursday, June 28th in Biloxi where SBA will be recognizing and celebrating the successes and achievements of our Small Business Person of the Year along with 6 Small Business Champions and a national winner – the Phoenix Awardee.    For more information, please visit www.sba.gov/ms. North Carolina District Office Lynn Douthett, District Director SBA North Carolina District staff welcomes Joe Ann Shaeffers to the team as a Business Opportunity Specialist (BOS).  Joe Ann helps support 8(a) certified firms and government contracting marketing efforts in the 8(a) Business Development Division. Ms. Shaeffers transferred from the SBA New Jersey District Office, where she began her SBA career in 1996 as a Business Opportunity Technician.  Later she was promoted to BOS. She has served as the Regional Technical Point of Contact (RTPOC) for SBA's 7(j) Program from 2011 to 2012.   Under Section 7(j) of the Small Business Act, the SBA is authorized to provide specialized training to 8(a) firms through authorized service providers.  Before joining the SBA, Ms. Shaeffers worked at the U.S. Attorney in the Financial Budget Office,  Department of Defense and the Defense Logistics Agency. South Carolina District Office Elliott Cooper, District Director The South Carolina SBA District Office sponsored another 7j Workshop entitled "Government Contract Negotiations" on June 12, 2012. The workshop was held in North Charleston at the Lonnie Hamilton County Office Building. This was one of several workshops held to assist small business owners in learning how to successfully negotiate federal contracts with the federal government.  Although the focus was on federal contracts, the course was helpful with state, local or commercial contracting opportunities. For future workshop and training opportunities, please visit www.sba.gov/sc. Tennessee District Office Walter Perry, District Director The Tennessee District Office welcomes Keri Wolfe as a new BOS.  Keri has been with the District as a part of the Student Career Employment Program since 2011.  In May of this year, she completed her Master's degree in economics at Vanderbilt University and is now full-time with the SBA team in Nashville – welcome Keri!   Connect with us for news and resources UPCOMING EVENTS Find out what SBA is doing in your area to assist you! Click here SBA Office of Advocacy Find out how the SBA Office of Advocacy can help you The Office of Advocacy is the voice for small business- learn how they can assist you with tax or regulatory issues for your small business. www.sba.gov/advocacy Recent SBA Lending Activity Contact your local SBA district office for updated loan data www.sba.gov Regional Office 233 Peachtree St. NE; Suite 1800 Atlanta, GA 30303 Email: region_4@sba.gov www.sba.gov Regional Office Directory Cassius Butts, Regional  Administrator  Mark Berson, Regional Advocate Phone: 404-331-3081    Email: mark.berson@sba.gov Adele Kehoe, Regional Office Manager Email: region_4@sba.gov Lola Kress, Regional Communications Director Phone: 404-331-2798    Email: lola.kress@sba.gov     SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Your Preferences  |  Unsubscribe  |  Help STAY CONNECTED: All SBA programs and services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis | Reasonable accommodations will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance  This email was sent to sjr3gb659yw41fx.jjjzz@blogger.com by Small Business Administration · 409 3rd St, SW · Washington DC 20416 · 1-800-827-5722

Prepare for a hurricane (or other emergency) with these tips

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Make a hurricane continuity plan for your business The six-month hurricane season typically peaks between August and October. Now is a good time to put a disaster preparedness plan in place to protect your employees and your business. We have tips to get you started. > Read more > Print our hurricane preparedness checklist [PDF] No hurricanes in your area? If your business is not at risk of a hurricane, you should still prepare for emergencies and natural disasters. Check out these critical preparedness tools: How to set up a crisis communications plan for your business Enroll in the Red Cross’ Ready Rating Program Visit Ready.gov/Business for information from our partners at FEMA    Share this information If you know someone who might be impacted by a hurricane, please share this message.     SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Your Preferences  |  Unsubscribe  |  Help STAY CONNECTED: All SBA programs and services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis | Reasonable accommodations will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance  This email was sent to sjr3gb659yw41fx.jjjzz@blogger.com by Small Business Administration · 409 3rd St, SW · Washington DC 20416 · 1-800-827-5722

Government Resources to Help With Difficult Financial Times

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Our mission at SBA is to to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise, and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.  Our friends at USA.gov and GobiernoUSA.gov, the official web portals of the U.S. government, have put together helpful information on how to get help for difficult financial times.  If times are tough for you and your family, or your employees, we encourage you to sign up for the e-mail updates below: Sign up in one-click for information to get help with difficult financial times and to receive featured updates from USA.gov. En Español - Suscríbase con un clic para obtener información que lo puede ayudar a superar dificultades económicas y recibir actualizaciones de GobiernoUSA.gov. USA.gov and GobiernoUSA.gov will highlight government resources that will help you with unemployment, jobs, training, housing, debt and credit, family issues, health care and insurance.   Know others who could use some help? Forward or share this message.     SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Your Preferences  |  Unsubscribe  |  Help STAY CONNECTED: All SBA programs and services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis | Reasonable accommodations will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance  This email was sent to sjr3gb659yw41fx.jjjzz@blogger.com by Small Business Administration · 409 3rd St, SW · Washington DC 20416 · 1-800-827-5722

SBA Region 4 News To Share

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. May 2012 SBA Region 4 Monthly Newsletter  Brought to you by the U.S. Small Business Administration This Month Celebrates National Small Business Week Cassius Butts SBA Regional Administrator This month kicks of Small Business Week across the nation.  Events honoring local small businesses are being held across the Southeast and I am honored to be in Washington DC this week celebrating Small Business Week and the accomplishments of entrepreneurs from across the nation.  Please follow the event in Washigton live on line at www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com. Region 4 Employee of the Month to Highlight Charles Long, SBA Area Manager SBA South Florida District Office- Tampa Charles Long joined the South Florida District Office as a Lender Relations Specialist in 2009.  He has since been assigned to the Tampa, FL Alternate Work Site as an Area Manager and this year took on the responsibility of the District International Trade Officer position.  Mr. Long is hard-working, dedicated, and uses his prior experience as a commercial lender to recruit, train and retain SBA participant lenders in the district.  He has a "can do" attitude that allows him to be a resource, not just to lenders, but to resource partners, too.  He has been influential in disseminating information on the international trade loan programs to interested lenders, working with the local USEAC staff to promote cooperation on training events and workshops and has become the contact point for Florida's STEP recipient, Enterprise Florida.  He is truly an asset to the SBA South Florida District. Update from Across SBA Region 4 Alabama District Office Thomas Todt, District Director The SBA Alabama District Office hosted a HUBZone Boot Camp at Alabama State University in Montgomery in May. The HUBZone training and education event introduced businesses to the program, helped them determine whether they are eligible for the program, and supported their efforts to participate in the program.  District Director Tom Todt welcomed the 36 participants and Deputy District Director Raymond Hembree informed them of additional SBA programs and services available to them in Alabama. Alabama District Office HUBZone Coordinator, Teresa Wilson, presented information and led a team of business people who spoke about their experience as HUBZone businesses. The presenters included Lynn Carter, President of Southeast Cherokee Construction, Inc. and Craig Clement, President of The Clement Group. Each of them shared their knowledge of operating in a HUBZone and the requirements as well as some of the difficulties they had encountered. Please check for future SBA events by visiting www.sba.gov/AL. Florida District Office- North Florida Wilfredo J. Gonzalez, District Director The North Florida District Office would like to congratulate the following 2012 Small Business Week Winners: Small Business Person of the Year Ann Sabbag, President, Health Designs, Inc., Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida; District and State Winner Financial Services Champion of the Year Joanne Jolin, Vice President, Atlantic Coast, Orlando, FL; District and State Winner Minority Small Business Champion of the Year  William Patton, Vice President of Strategic Development, Kratos Defense, Orlando, FL; District Winner Exporter of the Year Ronald Rose, President, Nova Pressroom Products, LLC Jacksonville, FL;  District, State, and Regional Winner Jeffrey Butland Family Owned Business of the Year Anthony Marlow, President, The Golden Lion Café, Flagler Beach, FL; District, State, and Regional Winner Women in Business Champion of the Year Dr. Kerry Geidd, President/CEO, Eola Eyes, Orlando, FL; District and State Winner Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year Charles Armstrong, Financial Advisor, D2 Solutions, Jacksonville, FL; District, State, and Regional Winner Entrepreneurial Success Award Neal Kimball, CEO, The Kimball Companies, LLC, Orlando, FL; District, State, and Regional Winner Florida District Office- South Florida Francisco Marrero, District Director The South Florida District Office will participate in the Federal Contracting Conference being hosted by Congressman Bill Posey and the SBA's Women's Business Center at Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, FL on May 21st and 22nd.   The free, two-day conference will help small firms that want to offer technology, innovation, defense contracting products and services to the Federal government. Contact Pam Gillespie or David Jackson at 321-632-1776 for appointments with procurement officials and/or defense contractors.  Georgia District Office Terri Denison, District Director The Georgia Lender Quality Circle, an organization of SBA lenders, hosted the 2012 Georgia Small Business Week Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, May 16 in Atlanta.  The guest speaker was State Senator Charlie Bethel, who is director of corporate affairs for a family-owned carpet manufacturing company his grandfather founded.  Congratulations to our 2012 Small Business Week Winners, including: Small Business Persons of the Year Laura Darnall and Lois Judy, Co-Owners of Candy Craft Creations of Savannah.  www.sba.gov/ga Kentucky District Office Ralph Ross, District Director We congratulate the 2012 SBA Kentucky Small Business Person of the Year, Mr. Donovan Wadsworth, Owner of D&M Contracting, Inc., Richmond, KY and the 2012 Kentucky Small Business Champions!  Please read more on these great winners: Small Business Person of the Year KY Small Business Champions Mississippi District Office Janita Stewart, District Director The Mississippi District and Gulfport Branch Offices are finalizing plans for the 2012 Mississippi Small Business Week Awards Reception.  The venue will be an evening reception scheduled for Thursday, June 28th in Biloxi where we will be recognizing and celebrating the successes and achievements of our Small Business Person of the Year along with Small Business Champions and a national winner – the Phoenix Awardee- please contact our office for more information www.sba.gov/ms.   North Carolina District Office Lynn Douthett, District Director The SBA North Carolina District Office is hosting a HUBZone Awareness and Certification Workshop on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at Robeson Community College,  Lumberton.   The HUBZone program helps small businesses in urban and rural communities gain preferential access to federal procurement opportunities. These preferences go to small businesses that obtain certification in part by employing staff who live in a these designated areas.  Bladen, Richmond, Robeson and Scotland counties are designated HUBZone areas.  Businesses located in these counties are eligible to apply for certification.  Lead Business Opportunity Specialist Dan Lucero  will discuss how to become certified and what tools you need to successfully participate in government contracting. Dr. Freda Porter, who owns a HUBZone certified company, Porter Scientific, will share her experiences during the program. Register by calling 910-272-3631 or email bmoore@robeson.edu.   South Carolina District Office Elliott Cooper, District Director On May 16, the SBA South Carolina District Office, in partnership with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and the South Carolina Coalition for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, presented the ninth annual Salute to Small Business in Columbia.  Not only did the Salute honor the winners of the SBA's small business awards, it also featured a Procurement Opportunity Matchmaker, a speed-dating style event matching small businesses with more than 40 public and private-sector procurement representatives and even business consultants. With over 150 businesses attending, the Matchmaker generated more than 1,110 interviews between small businesses and participating procurement officials and consultants. But that's not the end of South Carolina's small business matchmaking events. On Tuesday, May 22, the SBA will participate in a Lender Matchmaker event in Rock Hill connecting small businesses seeking financing with area banks, credit unions and other non-bank lenders.  Can't make it to Rock Hill? Then stay tuned for future lender matchmaker events throughout South Carolina throughout 2012 and into 2013. Visit www.sba.gov/sc Tennessee District Office Walter Perry, District Director Administrator Mills Visited Nashville on May 17th-Tours Downtown with Mayor Dean Nashville, Tenn.—Administrator Karen Mills visited the TN DO, and toured the downtown area of Nashville with Mayor Karl Dean almost two years to the day after visiting the same area ravaged by flood waters in May 2010.  DD Walter Perry accompanied the Administrator and the Mayor on a walking press tour of three downtown businesses.  Jack's Bar-B-Que, helped by an SBA loan in 1999, was the starting point for the tour which included media  coverage from CBS affiliate NewsChannel 5, the Tennessee Tribune, La Noticia, El Crucero,  the Nashville City Paper, the Small Business Roundtable, and the Nashville Post.  Also accompanying the Administrator were 2012 TN Small Business Week winners from Famous Five Dining, SunTrust Bank, Ecostruct, and Petra Capital the SBA National SBIC award winner.  Administrator Mills also visited Soundcheck, whose business was almost totally destroyed in the 2010 floods-- but with help from an SBA Disaster Loan, has bounced back to profitability, recently hosting such luminaries as Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift and Garth Brooks.  During her visit, the Administrator also gave the keynote address at a DoD Small Business Conference in Nashville. Regional Office Directory Connect with us for news and resources UPCOMING EVENTS in Region 4 Stay on Top of What is Happening Click here for a Regional Calendar of events. Office of Advocacy Update Regional Advocate Mark Berson recently attended the Gulf States Alliance 2012 Annual Export Conference in Biloxi, MS. Advocacy's role in the conference was to discuss the regulatory burdens/challenges small businesses may face and overcome when exporting. For more information, please contact mark.berson@sba.gov. SBA Region IV Office Address 233 Peachtree St. NE Suite 1800 Atlanta, GA 30303 Email: region_4@sba.gov Website www.sba.gov Cassius Butts, Regional Administrator  Mark Berson, Regional Advocate Phone: 404-331-3081 Email: mark.berson@sba.gov Adele Kehoe, Regional Office Manager Email: region_4@sba.gov Lola Kress, Regional Communications Director Phone: 404-331-2798 Email: lola.kress@sba.gov     SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Your Preferences  |  Unsubscribe  |  Help STAY CONNECTED: All SBA programs and services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis | Reasonable accommodations will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance  This email was sent to sjr3gb659yw41fx.jjjzz@blogger.com by Small Business Administration · 409 3rd St, SW · Washington DC 20416 · 1-800-827-5722

National Small Business Week

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Join Us Online, In Person, & In Your Community Let's Celebrate National Small Business Week 2012 The week of May 20th, our nation's entrepreneurs will come together online and in Washington, DC for National Small Business Week. Learn more about the event Participate Online Sign up to view the live webcast of the free educational panels. We'll send you a reminder. With a strong focus on how small businesses can take advantage of economic opportunities and new marketing trends, topics for the educational forums this year include: Strategies and resources for taking your small business global through exporting Tips and best practices for putting social media to work for your business An open discussion on how small businesses can better position themselves to win federal government contracts  Check out the full conference schedule here ...or you can follow along on Twitter with the event hashtag #SBW2012. Attend In Person Small business owners are invited to attend the free seminars and network with other entrepreneurs at the Washington, DC conference. Visit the National Small Business Week site to register Small Business Week Video Contest Do you have two minutes and a video camera? Share your business' success story by entering our video contest. Three winning videos will be featured during National Small Business Week and shown during a Google+ Hangout hosted by SBA and the White House on May 23. The deadline for video submissions is May 11. Enter your submission now     SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Your Preferences  |  Unsubscribe  |  Help STAY CONNECTED: All SBA programs and services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis | Reasonable accommodations will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance  This email was sent to sjr3gb659yw41fx.jjjzz@blogger.com by Small Business Administration · 409 3rd St, SW · Washington DC 20416 · 1-800-827-5722

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