[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 27, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E453]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING BENJAMIN C. PABLO ON BEING NAMED THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS 
 ADMINISTRATION'S VETERAN SMALL BUSINESS CHAMPION OF THE YEAR FOR 2012

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 27, 2012

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Benjamin C. 
Pablo for receiving the U.S. Small Business Administration's 2012 
Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year Award. Ben is a United 
States Army veteran who served for 22 years, and is currently the Vice 
President and Community Development Officer at the Bank of Guam, where 
he is fondly referred to as its ``veteran ambassador.''
  Ben has worked to create educational opportunities for veterans and 
servicemembers interested in simplifying their finances or opening up a 
small business. Most notably, in 2010, he helped establish the Guam 
Veterans Business Outreach Center, which provides resources and 
training workshops to veterans. Through the outreach center, Ben 
consults with local veterans on credit and lending criteria and also 
shares his expertise in creating and developing a successful business 
plan. Further, Ben helped secure the Bank of Guam's ability to 
administer SBA Patriot Express Loans to assist veteran clients and 
members of the military community in creating or expanding their small 
business.
  Additionally, Ben devotes his time to participating in community 
service activities and civic organizations. He played an instrumental 
role in helping the Vietnam Veterans of Guam Chapter 668 in obtaining 
donations from the bank and other organizations to construct the 
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Walls, to memorialize the servicemembers from 
Guam killed during the Vietnam War. He also serves as the treasurer for 
Catholic Social Services (CSS) on Guam, and has been a board member for 
seven years. CSS is a nonprofit organization that provides numerous 
services to Guam's most vulnerable residents, including many veterans.
  I commend Mr. Benjamin C. Pablo for working to improve veterans' 
business opportunities on Guam and for being SBA's Veteran Small 
Business Champion of the Year for 2012. I join our island in thanking 
him for his service to our country, and for his dedication to sharing 
his financial expertise with our veteran community on Guam.

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