[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 134 (Thursday, September 22, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
       BEST OF AMERICA AWARDS WON BY THE DELSTAR GROUP OF PHOENIX

                                 ______


                              HON. JON KYL

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 22, 1994

  Mr. KYL. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to announce that the Delstar Group 
of Phoenix, a women-owned and operated enterprise of specialty shops 
throughout the United States, has been named the national winner of the 
Best of America Awards, sponsored by the National Federation of 
Independent Business [NFIB] and Dun & Bradstreet.
  The Delstar Group is a 22-year-old company that owns and operates 18 
retail specialty shops in airports and resorts throughout the United 
States. Pam Del Duca, Delstar's founder, CEO and president, started the 
business as a one-person gift and accessory store using money saved 
working as a school teacher by day and waitress at night. Today, the 
company employs 157 people, 47 percent of whom are minorities and 67 
percent women. In addition, Delstar has forged partnerships with three 
community-based organizations: The Phoenix Urban League, Chicanos Por 
La Causa and the Phoenix Indian Center. These partner organizations 
recruit potential job candidates for Delstar organizations and receive 
a percentage of the stores' gross sales.
  Former President Bush once said, ``Americans will do great things, if 
you only set them free.'' So will small business, if we free them from 
the excess burdens of taxation, regulation and litigation. Small 
businesses employ 60 percent of the private workforce, contribute 44 
percent of all sales in the United States and are responsible for 38 
percent of gross national product. The fastest growing segment of the 
small business market is women-owned small business.
  I am very proud of the fact that a women-owned small business 
headquartered in Phoenix has earned recognition as the best small 
business in America. The Delstar Group is a shining example of the 
positive relationship a business and community can have. Under the 
leadership of Pam Del Duca, as the Delstar Group has prospered, it has 
spent time and money investing in the community and reaching out to 
minorities and generally being a good neighbor. I applaud her efforts 
and wish her continued success.
  Dun & Bradstreet and the NFIB Education Foundation created the Best 
of America Awards in 1993 to recognize excellence in small business, 
especially in the areas of growth, innovation and community service. 
This year, the awards program attracted more than 5,000 calls for 
nominations and accepted approximately 500 applications, representing 
every State in the Nation, as well as Puerto Rico.

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