[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7650]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING KAREN CARUSO FOR BEING NAMED NORTH CAROLINA'S 2011 SMALL 
                      BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HEATH SHULER

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 23, 2011

  Mr. SHULER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Karen Caruso, CEO 
of Mind Your Business, Inc. located in Hendersonville, North Carolina, 
for being named North Carolina's 2011 Small Business Person of the Year 
by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
  In 1995, Ms. Caruso was watching an Oprah Winfrey show on abusive 
child care providers and saw the need for parents to be able to screen 
the individuals who would potentially be caring for their children. Her 
background in security proved to be useful in developing applicant 
screening services. Mind Your Business, Inc. was launched in 1996 with 
two employees and $2,500 in the basement of Ms. Caruso's home.
  Despite facing a market dominated by men and large corporations, Ms. 
Caruso's business has continued to expand. She now employs 14 people 
and operates a 3,000-square-foot facility in the mountains of Western 
North Carolina. Mind Your Business, Inc. now offers several screening 
options, including pre-employment screening, applicant background 
checks, and drug and alcohol testing services for individuals, 
corporate, and government clients.
  Mind Your Business, Inc. is a prime example of the success that can 
be accomplished through a partnership between entrepreneurs and the 
SBA. Ms. Caruso has made use of several SBA programs, including 
training through SCORE, the North Carolina Small Business Technology 
and Development Center, and the SBA Women's Business Center.
  I congratulate Karen Caruso for having the vision and perseverance to 
create a business that, despite these economically difficult times, has 
shown record profits in 2009 and 2010. Ms. Caruso's business has 
provided security, given peace of mind to parents, and helped ensure 
the safety of our region's children.
  I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the exceptional 
career of Ms. Karen Caruso, North Carolina's 2011 Small Business Person 
of the Year.

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