25 Years After Starting A Business From Her Living Room, Philly Entrepreneur Named Eastern PA's Best

PHILADELPHIA - June 10, 2014 - PRLog -- Celebrating her Silver Anniversary in business, Maria Frizelle Roberts, a resident of Queen Village, has been named the Eastern Pennsylvania Small Business Person of the Year by the Philadelphia District of the Small Business Administration (SBA). But don’t let the word “small” fool you. Roberts has a big vision for MFR Consultants, Inc. Started in 1989 in her apartment living room in the Northern Liberties neighborhood of Philadelphia, the first year Roberts brought in less than $40,000. Today, as President and CEO of MFR, she can proudly say that the company employs nearly 50 employees and operates in more than a dozen cities across the country out of their Old City headquarters.

Building MFR into a reputable company has not always been easy. Like all business owners, Roberts faced many obstacles along the way. However, Roberts says her biggest cheerleaders were her parents who taught her that she could do anything. Armed with this belief, Roberts sought out and benefited from an SBA funded guaranteed loan in the amount of $100,000 through Citizens Bank in July 2005. One year later, in 2006, MFR received recognition as the Firm of the Year from the Minority Business Enterprise Development Center of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Working closely with Ms. Roberts throughout the evolution of her firm has been her sister and business partner, Sandra Roberts, Managing Director of Project Management. Said Roberts, “I could not have accomplished what I have done without my sister. This award is really for her as well.”

"Working with the SBA Philadelphia District Office, and utilizing the services and assistance that they offer to small businesses, has been nothing but a great experience," says Roberts.  "When the time came for MFR to expand its client base into the federal arena, the SBA provided invaluable expertise and advice.”

Providing business advisory, information technology and project management services, Roberts said, “My goal for the company has always been to find creative and innovative ways to bring about change and to solve problems for our clients. It’s what sets us apart, along with our deep understanding of the public sector which we gained over the past 25 years."

The media is invited to attend the awards ceremony and luncheon on Thursday June 12, 2014, at 10am at XFinity Live, located at 1100 Pattison Avenue in the Wells Fargo Complex.

For more information about Maria Frizelle Roberts or MFR Consultants (http://www.mfrconsultants.com), contact Leslie Patterson-Tyler of TylerMadePR at (609) 247-2632 or via email at Leslie@TylerMadePR.com.

About Maria Frizelle Roberts

Maria Frizelle Roberts, RN, MPH, is an accomplished business executive and strategist. She is the President & Chief Executive Officer of MFR Consultants, Inc. (MFR), a local business located in the Old City section of Philadelphia.  The firm was created in 1989 and has grown over the past 24 years from a single-proprietorship to a corporation with a staff of almost 50 full-time professionals, operating in 14 states. Though Robert’s background is as a health care expert, her firm evolved from initially providing business consulting services to local HMO’s to now offering business advisory, information technology and project management services in multiple industries including defense, transportation, energy, healthcare/human services, education and life sciences.  Roberts is respected throughout the business community and is an advocate of strategic partnerships.

Roberts presently leads an interdisciplinary team of highly educated and experienced professionals, the strength and versatility of which enables the firm to cater to a diverse client base. Throughout her professional career, Roberts has advised many corporations and governmental agencies.  As a result of Robert’s efforts, numerous private sector clients have achieved greater efficiency, implemented new programs, introduced new services, and increased their bottom lines. Today, with a host of national and local clients, Roberts is proud of her firms' reputation for providing clients personal, customized attention that sets MFR apart from other consulting firms. In 2006, MFR Consultants received the Firm of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania Minority Business Enterprise Development Center.

Ms. Roberts received a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Joseph University with a concentration in Sociology. Roberts, a licensed Registered Nurse, received her diploma in Nursing from the Philadelphia General Hospital School of Nursing.  She subsequently received her Master’s Degree from the University of California, at Berkeley with concentrations in Public Health Administration & Economics. She also attended Dartmouth University, Tuck School where she received a certificate in Supply Chain Management as well as a certificate in Project Management from Temple University and a Certified Scrum Master Certification from the Scrum Alliance.

Ms. Roberts is also active civically and serves as a Board Member for several Philadelphia organizations including the Queen Village Neighborhood Association, the Gloria Dei Swedes Episcopal Church, which is the oldest church in Pennsylvania, and Tabor Northern Community Partners (TNCP). In addition, she serves as Secretary to the Board of Tabor Children’s Services, Inc.