[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 17, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1821]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATIONS TO JOANNE STOCKDALE, IOWA SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE 
                                  YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE KING

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 17, 2003

  Mr. KING of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Ms. Joanne 
Stockdale on the great honor of being named Iowa Small Business Person 
of the Year by the Small Business Administration. It is because of the 
excellent reputation that she established since purchasing Northern 
Iowa Die Casting, Inc. in 1984, that she deserves this recognition. 
Small businesses are the backbone of Iowa's economy, and it takes true 
entrepreneurial spirit and determination to ride economic waves in 
order to remain successful. It is to her credit that Northern Iowa Die 
Casting, Inc. has grown from six to 100 employees, with sales soaring 
from $225,000 to $10 million. She is to be commended for bringing jobs 
and commerce to Lake Park, Iowa.
  I also recognize her for the great honor of representing Iowa small 
business at the National Entrepreneurial Conference and Expo held this 
week in Washington, D.C., while competing for the national Small 
Business Person of the Year Award.
  As a small business owner for 28 years, I have great personal 
appreciation for both the struggles she faces and the joys of seeing 
the fruits of her labor. Since arriving at the U.S. Congress in 
January, I have made small business a legislative priority, and my work 
on the Small Business Committee has already enabled me to assist in 
creating legislation that will help small business leaders like Joanne 
Stockdale.

                          ____________________