TN Small Business Development Center Presents Small Business Leader Awards | Business

The Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) of Dyersburg State Community College recently held a celebration of small business owners and entrepreneurship of the Northwest TN region. The 2nd Annual Rising Star Small Business Appreciation and Award Banquet was held November 13th in the Student Center Commons of Dyersburg State Community College. In an Academy Awards style event, complete with red carpet arrivals and paparazzi, guests enjoyed a delicious catered meal, followed by a program of awards and networking. During the program, guests enjoyed an entertaining and educational keynote address provided by a true West TN success story, Mr. Todd Hopkins. Hopkins, born and raised in Crockett Mills, TN, is the Founder and CEO of the franchise Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services, Inc. Hopkins has also authored several books with an entrepreneurial flair, most recently the best-seller entitled The Janitor. Hopkins now resides in Pensacola, FL with his wife and three teenage sons. Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Hopkins, Todd’s parents, continue to reside in Crockett Mills and they were honored guests at the event.

The Rising Star Award is presented each year to an entrepreneur who followed the TSBDC’s prescription for their business and successfully reached new benchmarks in their company’s success. The 2012 Rising Star Award was presented to Pig-N-Out Barbeque, with locations in both Dyersburg and Halls, TN. Mr. and Mrs. Ricky Horner, owners, worked diligently on strengthening their operations and increasing their market share by focusing on customer service and employee relations. Their efforts have resulted in increased sales revenues which provided the company the strength they needed to sustain each of the existing jobs they provide and paved the way for the creation of new jobs on the horizon.

The 2012 New Business Success Story Award was presented to Terry and Pat Mullins, owners of Dirt Dog Landscaping, LLC. This year’s award recipient successfully started a business in early 2012 with better than projected sales and net profits. This new business also created three new jobs in South Tipton County. With new customer contracts being awarded daily, this company is a model of best practices within the TSBDC network of clients.

Each year the TSBDC recognizes a minority or woman owned business that has successfully set themselves apart from their competition, found innovative ways to sustain and grow their business and has persevered in their efforts to become successful entrepreneurs. The 2012 Women in Business Champion of the Year was awarded to Anita Beasley of Promo Print Advertising. Building a legacy of Hispanic women becoming successful business owners through hardwork, dedication to their employees, and putting customers’ needs first makes Promo Print Advertising a business to be modeled after.

The TSBDC unveiled the name of the small business owner and company who will be nominated by the Center for the 2013 United States Small Business Administration Business of the Year Award. Each year, the TSBDC of Dyersburg State Community College nominates a client who has excelled in the five focus areas of business success; people, service, quality, growth and finance. The nomination can be made in a variety of categories. Recently being awarded a $1,000,000 zero-interest loan for product line expansion, Advantage Manufacturing, Inc. of Friendship, TN is moving forward with improving their operations, increasing sales, and most importantly creating jobs. The TSBDC is pleased to announce the nomination of Ms. Wanda Rea, President of Advantage Manufacturing, Inc., for the 2013 SBA Business of the Year award in the category of Women in Business Champions. Winners, both State and National level, will be announced by the United States SBA during National Small Business Week in May 2013.

Other awards presented during the 2012 TSBDC Rising Star banquet included: Service Industry Business Person of the Year, Ms. Rebecca Dawson (Travelennium of Munford, TN); Lender of the Year, Ms. Kay French (First Citizens National Bank); Financial Institution of the Year, First State Bank (Danny Watson, Community Bank President- Dyersburg) and Media Champions of the Year, Jason Cannon and Vanessa Cain (State Gazette of Dyersburg).