SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AWARDED AT BANQUET
Small Business Winners for 2004 include Bob Barnes of Red Line Enterprises, Minority Small Business; Ronnie Eason of Eason Floor Sanding, Entrepreneurial Success ; Mary Ruffin of Mary Ruffin Agency - Nationwide, Small Business Woman; Danny Eason of Eason Floor Sanding, Entrepreneurial Success; Kenneth Burnette of East Coast Plywood Company, Small Business Person; Karen Massengale and Mike Overton representing Ricky Overman, CPA, Rookie of the Year; Martha Daniel of Daniel Design Associates, Small Business Woman; Dorothea Barrow of Nash Health Care Systems, Work First Nash County; and Patricia Williams of Universal Leaf, Work First Edgecombe County.
The Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce paid tribute to outstanding local small business owners on June 10, 2004, at Benvenue Country Club during the 40th National Small Business Week, a week recognizing the contributions small businesses bring to the nation's economy and acknowledging the entrepreneurial spirit of people everywhere. Chamber Chairman Rick Toomey added, "The theme for this year, 'Small Business: Where America Works,' appropriately captures America's confidence in the continued success of small businesses. This week of celebration spotlights the many accomplishments of local businesses and their positive effects on our economy and our community. There are approximately 25 million small businesses in the US; small business represents 99.7 percent of all employees; over 90 percent of total business establishments employ fewer than 50 persons; and statewide, in the last decade, the number of establishments employing fewer than 50 persons grew by 23.4 percent. The contributions of small business are significant; they drive the economic engine of our nation." Keynote speaker for the evening was Perri Morgan, state director and chief lobbyist for the National Federation of Independent Business in North Carolina.
A record 155 guests were on hand to congratulate Small Business Awards winners, as follows:
- Small Business Person of the Year - Kenneth Burnette, East Coast Plywood Company
- Entrepreneurial Success of the Year - Ronnie and Danny Eason, Eason Floor Sanding
- Small Business Women of the Year - Martha Daniel, Daniel Design Associates and Mary Ruffin, Mary Ruffin Agency - Nationwide Insurance
- Minority Small Business Person of the Year - Bob Barnes, Red Line Enterprises
- Rookie of the Year - Ricky Overman, Richard E. Overman, PA, CPA
- Work First Person of the Year (Edgecombe County) - Patricia Williams
- Work First Person of the Year (Nash County) - Dorothea Barrow
