[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 70 (Thursday, May 7, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING BRYAN STONE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LYNN A. WESTMORELAND

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 7, 2009

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Bryan Stone, 
named the 2009 Small Business Person of the Year by the Small Business 
Council of America. To win this prestigious award one must possess 
entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, vision and managerial acumen as 
well as a profound commitment to community service.
  As the owner of Columbus Gourmet, Bryan Stone has grown his business 
while becoming an integral part of Muscogee County.
  In 2004, Stone acquired a ``mom and pop'' business called Kendrick 
Pecan and in just five years he has expanded rapidly into a thriving 
specialty food operation that now also includes La Piccolina, Dodge 
City Steaks and Aunt Pearlie's. His products now enjoy strong regional 
brand recognition and the company now employs up to 30 people at a 
time.
  Stone's gourmet products line the shelves of more than 900 grocery 
stores and he has licensing agreements for specialties and 
commemorative items with the Kentucky Derby, Coca-Cola, the PGA Tour, 
the National Infantry Foundation and Hank Aaron's Chasing the Dream 
Foundation.
  Columbus Gourmet always cuts a slice for the local community, too. It 
provides vital resources to Partners in Education of Greater Columbus, 
which funds after-school programs, and it supplies Gourmet products 
that Rotary Clubs sell to raise money for charity projects.
  The 3rd Congressional District resident supplements his company's 
philanthropic work with his own. Though he's lived there only a short 
time, he's already a member of the Board of Directors of the Columbus 
Chamber of Commerce and he's served in a leadership with the local 
Republican Party.
  Madam Speaker, we're justifiably proud in Georgia of our strong small 
business culture and the entrepreneurial spirit of our people who have 
helped our state grow and thrive. Bryan Stone exemplifies the hard 
work, risk-taking and perseverance that has made our economy the 
greatest in the world.
  I ask the House to join me in congratulating Bryan Stone on winning 
the Small Business Person of the Year award. On behalf of the people of 
Georgia's 3rd Congressional District, we're proud to have Bryan Stone 
as our neighbor.

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