Sba Salutes Nation's Best Entrepreneurs At National Small Business Week April 21-25 2008

PRLog (Press Release) – Apr 07, 2008 – Small business owners from across the country will be honored for their accomplishments as the nation's leading small businesses. The highlight of events will be the announcement of the National Small Business Person of the Year.



"Small businesses drive our economy, creating jobs and opportunities for Americans in every community across the country," said SBA Administrator Steve Preston. "The SBA is very proud of the vital role it plays in enabling America's entrepreneurs, and we are excited to be able to recognize a few of these great success stories during the week."



Local Business Woman Vies for National Title

Representing the district of Puerto Rico & the U.S. Virgin Islands this year is Isabel De la Torre, president of Marketing Arts, Inc.


With over two decades of experience in branding, advertising and marketing, De la Torre has developed projects for multinational corporations such as Frito-Lay, Colgate Palmolive,

Johnson & Johnson, Pepsico and Verizon, to mention a few. Known to

most as "Nini", De la Torre also devotes much of her time to helping other women entrepreneurs work through the challenges faced in today' s business environment.



"Isabel De la Torre embodies what a small business entrepreneur is all about," said SBA Acting District Director Ana M. del Toro. "Not only does she run a successful company in an extremely competitive field and difficult times, but she advocates on behalf of others, believing that goodwill among entrepreneurs is basic to the wellbeing of any community."



Nominated to the Small Business Person of the Year Award by the Puerto Rico Women's Business Institute, De la Torre began her career over 20 years ago in Philadelphia, where she worked for a locally renowned



I am pleased to welcome you to this issue of Caribbean E-Outlook. As we begin the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2008, we celebrate the successes of entrepreneurs like our District Small Business Person of the Year Isabel De la Torre. It is through the hard work, sacrifices and dedication of businesspeople like Isabel that the economies of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands can move forward.


This year marks the 55th anniversary of the agency, and the 45th annual proclamation of Small Business Week. Our district office will honor Isabel, along with other outstanding entrepreneurs during

Puerto Rico Small Business Week celebrations to be held April 27th through May 3rd Also, take note    of Small Business Week in the Virgin Islands,

which will take place May 18 through the 24th.

We encourage you to mark your calendars for these impOrtant dates, as you will have the opportunity of participating in several educational and training events to help you start or expand your business, and to increase your opportunities of selling to the federal government.

Spring is almost here. It is time for new beginnings.