[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 64 (Thursday, May 15, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E939]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CONGRATULATIONS TO DEBBI GUTHRIE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 15, 1997

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, today, my constituent and personal friend, 
Debbi Huffman Guthrie of Roy O. Huffman Roof Co. has been recognized by 
the U.S. Small Business Administration as the 1997 Small Business 
Person of the Year for Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties 
in California. This honor comes after years of hard work. Debbi took on 
the family business when she was 26 years old after her parents and 
grandparents were killed in a plane crash. She has been dedicated to 
learning the business and developing a strong workplace for her 
employees. Under Debbi's watch, the company has grown from 15 employees 
to 28 with little employee turnover and sales have multiplied by six. 
She serves as an inspiration for all women who strive to succeed in a 
male-dominated industry, and as testimony that businesses who choose to 
work within the community will achieve success.
  Through incentive programs, she has encouraged employees to construct 
the highest quality roofs for their customers. With heavy attention on 
employee safety, she has been awarded the State Compensation Insurance 
Fund's Safety Award. Quality, safety, and reliability are key to her 
success and to the success of her business. Her customers have come to 
depend on this reputation.
  Debbi has maintained a commitment to the community where she lives, 
works, and raised her children. Her family has always believed in 
giving back to the community and she has continued that tradition 
through helping the Riverside youth, disadvantaged, and educational 
institutions. Debbie provided the human resources and project materials 
for a new roof on the Centro De Ninos nonprofit preschool center in a 
joint donation with three local Kiwanis Clubs and 45 volunteers. She 
also helps others who are pursuing their business and career goals 
through the Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce's Leadership 
Riverside Program and the National Association of Women in 
Construction. As a volunteer, she has served as a board member with the 
Kiwanis Club of Riverside and worked on the Longfellow Elementary 
Schools' Adopt a School program, the Special Olympics, and the Boy 
Scouts.
  In an effort to help the community's economy, she has served as 
president of the Roofing Contractors Association for Riverside/San 
Bernardino Counties and Director of Provident Saving Bank in Riverside. 
She also helped endow the University of California Riverside's College 
of Engineering, Center for Environmental Research and Technology [CE-
CERT], and is a founding member of the Riverside Educational Enrichment 
Foundation. Also, at the University of California Riverside, Debbi is 
working to establish a hall of fame to recognize recipients of the 
Athena Foundation's Women of the Year Award.
  Today's award will be added to her list of honors including the 1996 
California Association of Leadership Programs Distinguished Leadership 
Award, the 1994 GRCC Small Business of the Year Eagle Award, the 1993 
YWCA's Women of Achievement Athena Award-Corporate and the 1994 
Entrepreneur of the Year Small Business Award from Ernst & Young, Inc. 
Magazine, and Merill Lynch.
  On behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives, I would like to offer 
my sincerest congratulations to Debbi Huffman Guthrie, not only on this 
revered award, but her entire career. Thank you Debbi for maintaining 
the commitment to our community and to your customers.

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