2014 SBA Small Business Week Special Edition
Welcome to the second annual Rhode Island SBA Salute to Small Business special edition. Just as in the past, The Salute to Small Business is a weeklong celebration that highlights the success of many small businesses here in Rhode Island and includes a series of free workshops. These workshops are designed to help business owners on a variety of topics from accounting to power networking, LinkedIn and marketing. There will also be a speed mentoring session on June 5th with experts in the fields of marketing, business operations and management, insurance, finance and accounting, QuickBooks, human resources, business acquisitions and mergers, and business plan writing. This year’s workshop series is presented by Rhode Island SCORE, CWE and the SBA.
The small business week activities will be highlighted by the annual awards luncheon at the Alpine Country Club on Wednesday, June 4th. This event will acknowledge the outstanding accomplishments of eight Rhode Island small business owners. The success of these companies is great motivation for those of us who continue to grow our companies and strive for entrepreneurial success.
I would like to personally congratulate this year’s winners for their accomplishments and inspiration.
Rhode Island and New England Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year:
- Miguelina Dominguez and Roberto Castellano, co-owners
RCM Cleaning, LLC, Providence
Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year:
- John H. Wood II, owner
The Green Grocer, Portsmouth
Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year:
- Dr. Lori A. Duquette, owner
Duquette Family Eye Care, Inc., North Smithfield
Rhode Island SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year:
- Bianca Alicea, owner
ChubbyChicoCharms, LLC, North Providence
Rhode Island Microenterprise of the Year:
- Laura M. Ernst, president
Land & Coastal Services, LLC, East Greenwich
Rhode Island Financial Services Champion of the Year:
- Denise DiDonato
Rhode Island District Director Award:
- Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts
Joseph G.E. Knight Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence:
- Herrick & White Architectural Woodworkers, Cumberland
For more information on the Rhode Island Small Business Week list of events, visit our website at www.risbj.com/small-business-week-2014