ProSidian Managing Principal Nominated For 2013 Small Business Person Of The Year by NC SBA

Feb. 22, 2013 - PRLog -- Adrian Woolcock, Managing Principal of ProSidian Consulting (www.ProSidian.com) has been nominated for the 2013 Small Business Person Of The Year by The U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) North Carolina District Office.  As part of National Small Business Week (SBW), the U.S. Small Business Administration takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from all 50 states and U.S. territories.  

Since 1963, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners.  The Small Business Administration notes that more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.  Mr. Woolcock joins a group of fourteen (14) entrepreneurs and representing the North Carolina District (District 12).

The SBA makes Small Business Person of the Year awards at the district level (in multi-district states), the State level (from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam) and the National level.  The participating state small business winners represent a broad range of business products, services and innovations.  

Winners at each level are selected by a panel of judges and considered for awards at the next highest level.  The National Small Business Person of the Year is selected from the State winners.  Each National Small Business Person of the Year is selected by the SBA Administrator based on the recommendations of the Agency’s National Small Business Week panel of judges.  The winner is announced during National Small Business Week.

Small Business Person of the Year winners from each of the 50 states will converge on Washington, D.C. in May, when one of them will be selected as National Small Business Person of the Year during the SBA's celebration of National Small Business Week, May 20-22.  While in D.C., the winners will have opportunities to meet with top administration officials, congressional representatives and national business leaders.  The highlight of the celebration will come when one of them is named National Small Business Person of the Year.

Adrian Woolcock’s nomination was recommended by Theron Simpson, Jr. (Executive Vice President and Certified Mentor) of The Charlotte Chapter of The SCORE Association (previously known as the Service Corps of Retired Executives).  Now recognized as SCORE, "Counselors to America's Small Business.", this 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization provides business mentoring services to entrepreneurs in the United States by both active and retired business executives.  SCORE is a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration and is supported by a network of 12,000+ volunteers.  

Adrian Woolcock’s nomination was also supported by personal and organizational references from ProSidian’s public and private sector clients including the President/CEO of Hof Textiles Inc. (www.hoftextiles.com/) for the firm’s management and operations consulting engagements focusing on Energy & Sustainability for natural gas price risk management, brokerage, and supply in the State of North Carolina and by The City Of Durham, North Carolina (www.durhamnc.gov/) for training and knowledge management services and strategic resourcing solutions.

Every year at National Small Business Week, the SBA recognizes small businesses and entrepreneurs across the U.S. for outstanding contributions with awards in a variety of categories.  “Creating an economy built to last requires redoubling our commitment to supporting small businesses,” said Adrian Woolcock.  “A level playing field and competitive positioning creates sustainable advantage and is central to the success of small business growth and to our competitiveness as a nation.”  

Each state's Small Business Person of the year must meet criteria which include staying power, growth in employment, increase in sales/unit volume, innovation, response to adversity, and evidence of contributions to his/her community.  The Small Business Person Of The Year award is granted to any individual (or partners) who owns and operates or who bears principal responsibility for operating a small business and meet and exceed the following criteria:

1.   Staying Power — a substantiated history as an established business
2.   Growth # of employees — a benchmark to judge the impact of the business on the job market
3.   Increase in sales and/or unit volume — an indication of continued growth over the last three years.
4.   Current and past financial performance — financial reports substantiate an improved financial position of the business.
5.   Innovative service offered — an illustration of the creativity and imagination of the nominee.
6.   Response to adversity — examples of problems faced in the nominee’s business and the methods used to solve them
7.   Contributions to community — evidence of the use of his/her personal time and resources

This is the highest honor bestowed by SBA each year in celebration of the outstanding achievements, challenges and contributions of our small businesses.  As a nominee for the Small Business Person of the Year, Adrian Woolcock is being recognized for developing an outstanding, growing business; excellence in client services(s), increasing jobs, increasing sales, overcoming adversity, while also contributing to the community.  Help us recognize outstanding leaders and the small business community.  

As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration's North Carolina - Charlotte District Office will take the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from within The State and asks for assistance advocating for the selection of North Carolina candidates nominated for these awards.  You will be helping the most important local recognition for American small businesses.  Some local award winners will be invited to Washington, D.C. for SBW '13 - Celebrating Small Business Week.  A complete list of all award winners is available on the National Small Business Week Web site at www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com.