The US Small Business Administration recently announced its list of state and territory Small Business Persons of the Year ahead of this year’s National Small Business Week, which will take place May 4-10, 2025. SBA administrator Kelly Loeffler will kick off the week with a ceremony in Washington, DC, where she will name the National Small Business Person of the Year before embarking on a national small business roadshow. Over the course of the week, she will visit four cities to highlight the impact, economic contributions and importance of small business owners in communities across the nation.

“For more than 60 years, National Small Business Week has honored the risk takers, innovators and job creators who are the backbone of the American economy,” Loeffler says. “I congratulate the more than 50 state and territory winners on their recognition and look forward to this week of education and appreciation for entrepreneurship – as we highlight the small business owners who fuel prosperity, growth, and opportunity in communities across our country.”

After the Washington, DC, ceremony on May 5, which will crown the National Small Business Person of the Year and other national award winners, Loeffler plans to visit Boise, Idaho; Phoenix, Arizona; Nashville, Tennessee; and Hartford, Connecticut. While on the road, she will meet with local entrepreneurs, lenders and other community leaders to share SBA’s mission of empowering job creators, delivering disaster relief and driving economic growth.

National Small Business Week is slated to feature a two-day virtual summit, community events across the country honoring small businesses, educational sessions featuring key topics such as manufacturing, digital marketing, cybersecurity and cryptocurrency, as well as online business resources and renowned speakers.  

State and territory awardees in consideration for the National Small Business Person of the Year and runner-up include:

  • Alabama: Kimberly Lewis, ProjectXYZ Inc., Huntsville
  • Alaska: Christine Hopkins, ASCI Federal Services LLC, Anchorage
  • Arizona: Virginia Saldivar, Metro Accounting and Professional Services, Goodyear
  • Arkansas: Kimberly Stinson, Lil Lions Daycare LLC, Bismarck
  • California: Qais Salem Alkurdi, HQE Systems, Temecula
  • Colorado: Larisa Hegenbarth, Novastar, Englewood
  • Connecticut: Michelle Nicholson, The Flour Girl Bakery Cafe, Hebron
  • Delaware: Alison Schuch, Tangerine Goods, Bethany Beach
  • District of Columbia: Craig Williams, Cyber Synergy Consulting Group LLC
  • Florida: Benjamin Nagengast, Point Summit, Largo
  • Georgia: Patrick Wells, Piedmont Landscape Management, Augusta
  • Guam: Robert Salas II, Pacific Federal Management Inc., Tumon
  • Hawaii: Pamela Cariaga, P&S Plumbing LLC, Kailua-Kona
  • Idaho: Patrick Buchanan, Buchanan Insurance and Financial Services Inc., Hailey
  • Illinois: Eric Cup, Bridgewater Studios, Chicago
  • Indiana: Sudhansu (Sam) Yadav, Quest Safety Products Inc., Indianapolis
  • Iowa: Jamie Jackson, Jake Oakland and Joni Campidilli, Percival Scientific Inc., Perry
  • Kansas: Cang Quoc Phu and Tuan Lai, QuikTek Machining LLC, Wichita
  • Kentucky: Crinda Francke, ExecuTrain Corp., Lexington
  • Louisiana: Ronald “Rocky” Ortego III, Red Bison Services LLC, Kenner
  • Maine: Carrie Gervais and Jennifer Cousins, Stepping Stones Montessori School, Chelsea
  • Maryland: Jaqueline Lopez, Premier Enterprise Solutions, Upper Marlboro
  • Massachusetts: Pablah Ferraz Schwartz-Linhares, Fresscafe Inc., Framingham
  • Michigan: Greg McArthur and Shelly McArthur, NTL Industries, Sterling Heights
  • Minnesota: Beth Benike, Busy Baby, Oronoco
  • Mississippi: David Kittrell and Karen Kittrell, Kittrell's Industrial and Supply, Petal
  • Missouri: Tamara Keefe, Clementine’s Creamery, St. Louis
  • Montana: Jerry Stroot, Superior Meats Inc., Superior
  • Nebraska: Joseph Hodges Jr., Lion’s Gate Security Solutions Inc., Omaha
  • Nevada: Kristen Corral-Marin, Carlos Corral-Marin, Dan Simmons and Regina Simmons, Tacotarian, Las Vegas
  • New Hampshire: Tanya Lawson, Inbloom Health and Medispa, Londonderry
  • New Jersey: Nichole Ann Bryson, FT Mobility LLC, Saddle Brook
  • New Mexico: Victor D'Andrea and Jeffrey Giangiuli, TechSource Inc., Los Alamos
  • New York: Melissa Baidme, C.K. Natural Fruit Juice, LLC, Westfield
  • North Carolina: Mamie Hoffer and Jason Futrell, Hoffer Flow Controls Inc., Elizabeth City
  • North Dakota: Dee Decimus, All Embrace Home Caring, Grand Forks
  • Ohio: Victor Omar D’Angelo, Barroluco LLC, Columbus
  • Oklahoma: Shawn Collins, Sisemore & Associates, Tulsa
  • Oregon: Tadd Mick, Tradewinds Charters, Depoe Bay
  • Pennsylvania: Sheree Beth Thomas, SB Thomas & Associates Inc., Pittsburgh
  • Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands: Yoel Rivera Santos, Ultimate Solutions Corp., Caguas, P.R.
  • Rhode Island: Kaitlyn Roberts, Easy Entertaining Inc., Providence
  • South Carolina: Michael Haldeman, SpokeWorks Bicycle Workshop, Summerville
  • South Dakota: Tara Olson, Valley Ag Supply Inc., Gayville
  • Tennessee: Reggie Polk, Polk & Associates Construction Inc., Brentwood
  • Texas: Gabe Wander, Wander Staffing, Austin
  • Utah: Alfonso Porras, Sir Walter Candy Corp., South Salt Lake
  • Vermont: Christopher Swasey, Lewis Creek Builders, Essex Junction
  • Virginia: Donald Mills, Mills Marine and Ship Repair, Suffolk
  • Washington: Courtni Doherty and Stephen Doherty, Circle Creek Therapy PLLC, Auburn
  • West Virginia: Cathy Jo Higgins, The Developmental Advantage LLC, Charleston
  • Wisconsin: Mark Bula and Shawn Bula, Signature Farms II LLC, Grand Marsh
  • Wyoming: Lauren Heerschap, Brunton International LLC, Riverton