Contact: Shirah Apple, Rachel.apple@sba.gov
414-841-7013
MILWAUKEE –SBA’s Wisconsin District Office has named 11 small businesses and organizations as its 2023 SBA Wisconsin National Small Business Week award winners. Winners represent a range of industries and communities from throughout the Badger State. During National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration celebrates and honors the contributions that American small businesses, including the nearly 463,000 in Wisconsin, make throughout the country.
SBA’s Wisconsin District Director Eric Ness Eric Ness said, “Wisconsin’s 2023 National Small Business Week winners are not only exceptional business people and organizations, they make significant contributions to their communities. They represent the outstanding and multi-faceted nature of Wisconsin itself.” District Director Ness will present the awards in the winners’ communities during National Small Business Week and beyond.
In addition, winning small business owners will speak on May 5 on a virtual panel moderated by DD Ness as the final event of the Lt. Governor’s Small Business Academy, a series of free virtual trainings and in-person sessions taking place May 2-5 to mark National Small Business Week. “Starting and Growing a Winning Business: Wisconsin’s U.S. SBA 2023 Award Winners in Conversation” and the Small Business Academy are free and open now for registration.
Wisconsin’s 2023 National Small Business Week award winners are:
| 2023 SBA Wisconsin Award Categories | Names | Organization | City | Nominator |
| 2023 SBA Wisconsin Small Business Person of the Year | Steven Potter; Peggi Potter; Chuck Potter | Arctic Compressor | Superior | Andy Donahue, SBDC UW-Superior |
| 2023 SBA Wisconsin Small Business Exporter of the Year | Lu & Damon Holter | Croix Valley Foods | Hudson | WEDC |
| 2023 SBA Wisconsin 8(a) Graduate of the Year | Greta Smith-Bemi | Great Lakes Power Vac | Pewaukee | Aina Vilumsons, WPI |
| 2023 SBA Wisconsin Emerging Small Business of the Year | James Bloodsaw | Just Veggiez | Madison | Cheryl Vandenburgt, WWBIC |
| 2023 SBA Wisconsin District Director Award | Marthia Bell | Living Made Easy Homes | Milwaukee | Thalia Mendez, WWBIC |
| 2023 SBA Wisconsin Minority Small Business Champion | Ayrton Bryan | MKE Black | Milwaukee | Bryan Alves, SCORE; Joanna Prince; Lynn Heimbruch |
| 2023 SBA Wisconsin Women In Business Champion | Yolanda Coleman | Plush Clothing | Racine | Heather Lux, WWBIC |
| 2023 SBA Wisconsin Veterans Small Business Champion | James & Natalie Chesebro | Your Personal Gardener & Arborist | East Troy | Natalie Chesebro |
| 2023 SBA Wisconsin Women’s Business Center of the Year | Mara Keyes | WWBIC-La Crosse | La Crosse | Wendy Baumann, WWBIC |
| 2023 SBA Wisconsin SCORE Mentor of the Year | Paul Carron | SCORE Green Bay | Green Bay | Dave Maaske, SCORE |
| 2023 SBA Wisconsin SBDC Excellence and Innovation Award | Luke Kempen | SBDC UW-Eau Claire | Eau Claire | Bon Wikenheiser, Wisconsin SBDC Network |
For updates on award presentations and National Small Business Week activities in Wisconsin, follow SBA Wisconsin on Twitter at @SBA_Wisconsin. Small businesses and supporters can also follow, use, and share hashtag #SmallBusinessWeek, and #SmallBizAcademyWI for the Wisconsin conference, on all social channels.
About National Small Business Week
For 60 years, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week recognizing the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business and create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year. As part of National Small Business Week, 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. Every day, they’re working to grow small businesses, create 21st century jobs, drive innovation, and increase America’s global competitiveness. And in recognizing the changing face of America, the SBA’s National Small Business Week awards honor individuals and businesses that reflect our nation’s rich diversity.
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
