[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 71 (Tuesday, June 4, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S4964]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN RECOGNITION OF BELINDA GUADARRAMA

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to share 
with the Senate the accomplishments of one of my constituents, Belinda 
Guadarrama, of Petaluma.
  It is my great pleasure to honor the tremendous contributions Ms. 
Gudarrama has made to our economy. She has been recognized by the Small 
Business Administration as the California Small Business Person of the 
Year for 2002.
  In 1986, Ms. Guadarrama started GC Micro with two employees, $20,000 
and some money from a retirement account. Through her hard work, 
diligence and business acumen, the firm is now one of the Nation's 
leading suppliers of computer hardware and software products to the 
defense and aerospace industries. Today the company employs 28 people 
and sales last year topped $34 million.
  Building GC Micro from the ground up was not easy. When Ms. 
Guadarrama applied for a $5,000 loan for her company, a bank laughed at 
her lack of collateral. However, Ms. Guadarrama persevered.
  Through hard work and a passion for customer service, Belinda 
overcame the perception that a minority woman couldn't make it in the 
competitive field of technology and marketing to defense-related 
contractors. She never gave up and her success is a testament to her 
determination.
  Ms. Guadarrama has been a strong advocate for minority business 
development in America. In working with the National Association of 
Small Disadvantaged Businesses, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and 
the Hispanic Business CEO Roundtable, she effectively brings the 
concerns of the minority business community to the attention of the 
media and policy makers.
  Belinda's story has been an inspiration to many Latinas. Her 
enthusiasm and drive are evident to anyone who has had the pleasure of 
meeting her.
  I send my warmest congratulations to Belinda on her recognition by 
the Small Business Administration as the Small Business Person of the 
Year for 2002, representing California.

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