[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 73 (Tuesday, June 9, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S5779]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       TRIBUTE TO THE KENTUCKY SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

  Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Lior S. 
Yaron of Louisville, Kentucky, who has been selected as the Kentucky 
Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business 
Administration.
  Mr. Yaron is the President and CEO of LSY International, a 
distribution company in Louisville. He started the company in 1985 in 
New York and then moved the headquarters to Kentucky. Lior began LSY 
with a unique idea of marketing General Electric appliances with 
European voltage standards to domestic customers who would be moving 
back to their native country.
  Mr. Yaron recognized that he was in a position to fill a niche 
market. As a result, his customers were able to buy an appliance in the 
U.S. that was designed to work on foreign voltage standards. This 
allowed customers to bring these appliances back to their home country 
without having to pay duties, thus providing them with significant 
savings while also giving them quality home appliances.
  The success of LSY is also attributed to heavy advertising in 
publications frequently read by foreign nationals. Mr. Yaron relied on 
his unique advertising to minimize risks associated with selling goods 
that are only marketable overseas. LSY's innovative way of doing 
business has enabled it to grow and prosper. Sales have increased from 
$600,000 in 1985 to $11,520,460 in 1997. Employees have increased from 
only two in 1985 to 40 in 1997.
  And finally, I would like to say that Mr. Yaron's vision and 
innovation set an example for all small business entrepreneurs. I am 
very happy that Mr. Yaron is being recognized for all of the hard work 
that has gone into this successful business. I congratulate him on this 
significant accomplishment and am proud that this innovative business 
is based in Kentucky.

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