[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 21, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E999]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   THE SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR FOR 1997, DERYL McKISSACK, 
      PRESIDENT AND CEO, McKISSACK AND McKISSACK OF WASHINGTON, DC

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 21, 1997

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, each year the U.S. Small Business 
Administration [SBA] celebrates Small Business Week by honoring 
outstanding men and women as Small business Persons of the Year. The 
winners of this award are judged based on staying power, growth in 
number of employees, increase in sales and/or unit volume, current and 
past financial reports, innovativeness of product or service, response 
to adversity and evidence of contributions to community-related 
projects. The Small Business Person of the Year for 1997 is Deryl 
McKissack, President and CEO of McKissack and McKissack of Washington, 
DC.
  Mr. Speaker, Deryl McKissack is a DC resident and graduate of Howard 
University who, in 1990, opened the Washington Office of McKissack and 
McKissack, the oldest minority-owned architectural/engineering firm in 
the Nation with $1,000, exceptional skills, determination, and a dream. 
In 1995 the company was certified in SBA's 8(a) Program and has won two 
8(a) contracts totaling $9.5 million.
  Mr. Speaker, today this business woman has over 35 full-time 
employees with an estimated revenue of $7 million for the coming fiscal 
year. Her client list now includes the U.S. Department of Labor, the 
Department of the Treasury, the Washington Convention Center, 
NationsBank, Georgetown University, Howard University, Morgan State 
University, and Coppin State College. The firm is a leader in program 
management engagements and is working on three separate contracts at 
the historic Treasury building in downtown D.C.
  Ms. McKissack has encountered closed doors and stiff competition. She 
overcame these obstacles with a strong commitment to excellence, a 
determination to outperform her competitors, emphasis on delivering 
outstanding work on schedule and within budget and ensuring that 
client's needs are met. Ms. McKissack supports a number of charitable 
organizations and serves the community in other ways including the DC 
Public Schools' Task Force on Education, Infrastructure for the 21st 
Century, and the Architectural Review Board.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that this body join me in saluting Deryl 
McKissack, SBA's Small Business Person of the Year for 1997 for the 
Washington Metropolitan Area and celebrating the contributions of the 
small business community to this Nation's economic health.

                          ____________________