[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 79 (Wednesday, June 17, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1145-E1146]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING MINNESOTA'S SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AWARD WINNERS

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                          HON. BRUCE F. VENTO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 17, 1998

  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Small Business 
Administration's award winners from Minnesota. The accomplishments of 
these ten individuals are impressive, and they deserve recognition for 
their hard work and dedication.
  There is nothing small about starting or owning a small business. In 
fact, small businesses are what fuel the economy of our nation. In the 
United States, small businesses employ 53 percent of the private 
workforce, contribute 47 percent of all sales, are responsible for 50 
percent of the gross domestic product and are the principle source of 
new jobs.
  The Small Business Administration has chosen ten Minnesotans whom 
they recognize as having excelled in various areas of endeavor. I 
applaud and acknowledge their achievements.
  The Welfare to Work Award winner is Dr. Timothy Childs, President of 
TLC Precision Wafer Technology. This company is one of only a handful 
of firms worldwide that have perfected the technology to commercially 
produce gallium aresenide wafers. Besides being a leader in his 
industry, Dr. Childs established his business in the inner city with 
the goal of employing local residents. As a result of his dedication, 
numerous under-employed individuals have developed job skills and now 
have the means to support their families.

[[Page E1146]]

  The Minority Small Business Advocate Award winner is Jeff Locketz, 
CPA and partner with the firm of Lurie, Besikof, Apidus & Company. 
Since 1993, Mr. Locketz and his associates have provided, on a pro bono 
basis, more than 1,800 hours of professional services to minority 
entrepreneurs. As a result of his dedication to the advancement of 
minority entrepreneurship, more than 60 minority-owned firms in the 
Twin Cities have received professional counseling and training that is 
vital to the success of their business.
  Charles Jones has been recognized as the Veteran Small Business 
Advocate. Mr. Jones is a vocational rehabilitation specialist with the 
United States Department of Veterans Affairs Twin Cities Regional 
Office. Currently, more than 675 veterans receive vocational 
rehabilitation under his direction. Through this program, veterans 
receive the training and career counseling needed to get back into the 
workforce. Vocational rehabilitation at the Department of Veterans 
Affairs generally involves helping disabled individuals find meaningful 
jobs. Mr. Jones modifies traditional job placement goals and recognizes 
self-employment as a realistic objective for some disabled veterans. 
His continued dedication has provided good jobs for many disabled 
veterans in his community.
  Dee DePass has been recognized as the Media Small Business Advocate. 
Most recently Ms. DePass has had five years experience as a writer for 
the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Her intuitive writing addresses important 
business issues including capital availability, neighborhood business 
development, the White House Conference on Small Business, and the 
opportunities and challenges of moving from welfare to work. In 
addition, Ms. DePass has been a prime mover in organizing and directing 
urban journalism workshops. These initiatives have given junior and 
senior high school students hands-on experience in journalism and the 
broadcast media. Ms. DePass's newspaper efforts have provided a forum 
and insight into the fabric of small enterprise.

  The Small Business Exporter of the Year is Peter Shortridge, 
President of Northland Organic Foods Corporation. Northland Organic 
Foods is a leader in exporting organic food products. Through its 
research, marketing initiatives and educational programs, it has opened 
doors for new exporting activities and helps to make them available to 
new exporters entering the market. In addition, ongoing training 
provides an educational background in exporting, learning to locate 
distributors. Northland Organic Foods Corporation is continually 
exploring markets and products that have special added quality, such as 
the organic foods so much in demand globally.
  John Flory, Executive Director of the Whittier Community Development 
Corporation, has been recognized with the Financial Services Advocate 
of the Year Award. Mr. Flory is a long time advocate for creating new 
ways to finance hard to serve business entities. In the early 1980's he 
founded the North County Co-Op Development Fund in response to a 
handful of local co-op's inability to obtain financing. Through his 
stewardship, this fund has grown from a modest $5,000 in assets to $2 
million in assets, serving a ten state area. Perhaps no function is so 
much needed as credit and financing for new ventures, and Mr. Flory's 
diligent efforts have led to innovation, effectively financing small 
businesses.
  The Women in Business Advocate is Deb Winsor, the President of Winsor 
and Associates. This consulting firm specializes in working with 
financial institutions including credit unions and insurance companies. 
Ms. Winsor has dedicated a large amount of time and energy in 
determining exactly what women business owners want and need to become 
successful in their entrepreneurial endeavors. Upon completion of her 
research, she began to develop an initial strategy to create a seminar 
series named ``Making Your Dream a Reality''. Over the past two years, 
this program has provided thousands of hours of training, education and 
resources to over 300 business owners, and that translates into 
success.
  Vernon Schmitz and Troy Leesberg, the President and Vice President of 
Greatland Cable TV Communications, Inc. are the Young Entrepreneur of 
the Year award recipients. The cable television construction industry 
is presently a booming business. This success is highlighted by the 
many private cable operators who are in the process of or planning for 
upgrades in their present systems. Greatland's payroll and number of 
employees has substantially increased since the first year. Currently, 
Greatland employs 8 people and plans to add 16 to 20 more employees. By 
utilizing their education and experience in the cable industry, Mr. 
Schmitz and Mr. Leesberg have been able to maintain quality service at 
competitive prices, while at the same time providing a great work 
environment.
  I would especially like to congratulate Sue McCloskey, who has been 
named the 1998 Minnesota Small Business Person of the Year. Ms. 
McCloskey is the President and founder of Office Plan, a remanufacturer 
of office furniture. I've known Sue McCloskey as a civic election 
activist who has been very helpful to me personally, and many others. 
Starting her business in 1991 with three partners and one employee, she 
currently employs 33 personnel and has an annual revenue of $4.5 
million. Environmental sensitivity is a hallmark of Office Plan. Work 
fabric is recycled or sent out to be made into industrial rags. 
Recycled products and environmentally sensitive materials are used in 
production whenever possible. Our state and community takes great pride 
in Ms. McCloskey's success and we are pleased with this well-deserved 
recognition.
  Thanks to the stewardship and dedication of all these small business 
talents, the spirit of entrepreneurship is alive and flourishing in 
Minnesota. My congratulations to the award recipients and to all small 
businesses in the state of Minnesota.

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