[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10253]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 10253]]

                          EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS

    TRIBUTE TO STEVE OSBORNE--2000 SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 7, 2000

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this moment to 
congratulate Steve Osborne on being selected as the 2000 Small Business 
Person of the Year for the Colorado District of the U.S. Small Business 
Administration. His hard work, dedication and business savvy have 
propelled Steve and his business--Building Specialities--to new 
heights.
  Steve and his organization have not had an easy road to success. 
After a very promising and profitable inception, the company began 
losing money. An external audit was performed and it was revealed to 
Steve that an employee was embezzling money. Amid this adversity, Steve 
never put his head down in defeat. Rather, he put his shoulder to the 
plow and revamped his company.
  Today, that turn-around is complete as Building Specialities is 
expected to reach nearly $5 million in gross sales this year. Much of 
this renewed success is attributable to Steve's efforts and energies. 
Steve has taken a proactive approach to his business philosophy and 
continues to draw from his experience of hard knocks. He is a model 
citizen and a firm believer in never giving up.
  I am encouraged by Steve's accomplishments and his success story. He 
is the embodiment of the entrepreneurial spirit that makes America's 
economy the strongest in the world. Because of entrepreneurs of Steve's 
caliber, America can look forward to many decades of continued 
prosperity.
  It is with this, Mr. Speaker, that I say congratulations to Steve on 
winning this prestigious award. We are all very proud of you.

                          ____________________