Cyber Invitation to Annual U.S. Small Business Week.
The importance of small business in the U.S. will be formally recognized this week (April 21 - April 25) with the annual celebration of U.S. Small Business Week, including speeches, panel discussions, award ceremonies and receptions in Washington D.C. and New York for those who can and want to attend in person, and Internet access to a number of these events, for interested small business women and men throughout the country.
Starting with the opening reception at the U.S. State Department on April 21, the week of activities include addresses by President George Bush and former Congressional Leader Newt Gingrich (with the opening keynote speech), panel discussions on a number of issues affecting small business owners, gala social events and awards presented to outstanding members of the small business community as well as individuals in business and government who have worked to improve the conditions for small business in the U.S. and people partnering with small business to benefit their communities.
The observance of U.S. Small Business week, sponsored by the Small Business Administration, with support from a number of U.S. companies, began in 1963 and has continued annually ever since, with support from every President in the last half of the 20th Century. Among the highlights this year will be the ceremony at the closing bell of the NASDAQ trading day, on April 24, to honor women entrepreneurs, followed by a reception hosted by the National Women's Business Council.
"Small businesses drive our economy, creating jobs and opportunities for Americans in every community across the country," said SBA Administrator Steve Preston in a news release from the SBA. He also was quoted as saying: "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."
Awards will be granted in several categories to recognize the achievements of small business counselors, lenders to small businesses, those individuals from the small business community who have aided in disaster recovery (the Phoenix Awards), and the individuals representing every state (plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam) in the annual National Small Business Person of the Year competition. The California candidate, incidentally, is Thanh Nguyen, President and CEO of Knowlwood Enterprises, Inc. in Fountain Valley. A native of Vietnam, Thanh Duc Nguyen is a turnaround specialist who was able to rescue a chain of restaurants from bankruptcy and bring it to profitability.
Important issues such as meeting the energy challenge, accessing new markets in a global environment, addressing the crises in healthcare and financing inner-city businesses will be discussed in various panels throughout the week for live and on-line audiences.
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