[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 8, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H2211-H2212]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I wish to associate myself with 
the remarks made by the gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson) and the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) relative to Mother's Day and 
the role that mothers play in this country. And I also take the moment 
to pay tribute to both my maternal and paternal grandmothers, as well 
as my own dear mother and my wife for the outstanding roles that they 
have all played in giving to the institution of motherhood.
  Mr. Speaker, for the past 39 years, the President of the United 
States has issued a proclamation calling for the celebration of Small 
Business Week. I rise in support of the Small Business Administration 
and the designation of the week of May 5 through 11, 2002 as National 
Small Business Week. This celebration will honor the estimated 25 
million small businesses in America who have created three out of every 
four new jobs and generate the vast majority of American business 
innovations.
  Small Business Week recognizes outstanding small business owners for 
their personal achievements and contributions to our Nation's economy. 
One outstanding entrepreneur is named to represent each State as the 
State's Small Business Person of the Year, and from this group the 
national Small Business Person of the Year is chosen. I am very proud 
and pleased to be able to congratulate Ms. Diane MacWilliams, from my 
7th Congressional District of Illinois, who is President of Quicksilver 
Associates, Incorporated, in Chicago, for being our State's Small 
Business Person of the Year.
  Armed with a brand new degree in fine and applied arts from the 
University of Illinois, Diane MacWilliams dove head first into a new 
career in graphic arts as a new hire in the audiovisual department with 
Arthur Anderson & Company. Over time, she perfected her skills in 
photography and graphic arts and began taking on more special 
assignments, including a promotional slide presentation for the Reading 
Is Fundamental campaign.

[[Page H2212]]

The acclaim for that production convinced her to take the plunge and in 
1976 start her own business, along with a close friend, who later would 
become her husband. Thus was born Quicksilver Associates, Incorporated.
  Diane's work experience taught her that there was a real need for 
creative outsource corporate audiovisual support. With this in mind, 
she started calling on corporate 500 companies, such as Quaker Oats, 
CBS, and International Harvester. As a pioneer of smears, zooms, 
starbursts, and other new and innovative graphic techniques, 
Quicksilver provided corporate customers with the creativity needed to 
customize their own business presentations. In 1978, Quicksilver won an 
International CLIO Finalist Award for its promotional piece on 
International Harvester's Scout, a sports utility vehicle apparently 
ahead of its time.
  As a premier audiovisual production studio, Quicksilver employs 
approximately 30 people within its four divisions, New Media, Video 
Production, Meeting Production, and Planning and Creative Services, 
generates sales of approximately $4.5 million annually, and hosts a 
``who's who'' of corporate clients that include ABN/AMRO, Blue Cross/
Blue Shield, Household International, and United Airlines.
  As a founding member and former President of the Make a Wish 
Foundation of northern Illinois, Diane received the first Fountain of 
Hope Award and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Make a 
Wish Foundation of America. Diane and Quicksilver also have offered 
their talents and resources to help other nonprofit organizations 
throughout the year.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I am indeed proud to bring to the attention of 
America Diane's achievements, for it is an example of how small 
businesses can achieve in America. Small businesses account for 99.7 
percent of America's employers. They played a vital role in helping to 
bring America out of this economic downturn. To help create and ensure 
America's small businesses continue to survive, we must engage all 
available resources in facilitating entrepreneurship development, 
providing low or no interest loans and more technical assistance to 
programs for small businesses.
  So, again, I congratulate Ms. Diane MacWilliams, President of 
Quicksilver Associates in Chicago, for being our State's Small Business 
Person of the Year.

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