Corpus Christi, TX – The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Corpus Christi Branch Office (CCBO) with the assistance of a nominating committee made up of local community partners has named Robert V. Skinner, Bishop RV Center, LLC (Corpus Christi) as the 2008 Small Business Person of the Year. Simon H. Castillo, CCBO Branch Manager, states SBA will also acknowledge the hard work and dedication of individuals who help entrepreneurs on their path to success. These individuals support their community by assisting small business owners with development and growth. The individuals below are this year’s Champion award winners in the following categories:

• Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year (SBA Branch, District & Region VI): Joe V. Elizondo, Greenwood Door Company (Corpus Christi)
• Minority Small Business Champion of the Year: Joe Cisneros, III, President/CEO, Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Home-Based Business Champion of the Year: Felix H. Ocanas, Jr., ECMS (Corpus Christi)
• Women in Business Champion of the Year: Barbara Baros, AFLAC Texas Central (Corpus Christi)

Three SBA participating lenders will also be recognized for their exceptional efforts in providing capital to small businesses in our area during FY 2007 via the SBA 7(a) & 504 loan programs. The lenders to be honored are Texas Certified Development Company (Austin, TX) – District 504 Lender of the Year, ValueBank Texas (Corpus Christi) – District 504 Third Party Lender of the Year, and 1st Community Bank (Corpus Christi) – Branch 7(a) Lender of the Year.

SBA’s valuable resource partners that provide counseling and training to local small businesses will also honor their top counselors. Elizabeth Soliz, a Certified Business Advisor with Del Mar College Small Business Development Center (SBDC), will be honored as SBDC Counselor of the Year; and Ben McDonald, SCORE Counselor; SCORE Chapter 221 (Corpus Christi) is this year’s SCORE Counselor of the Year.

Del Mar College Small Business Development Center will host the annual awards luncheon to celebrate Small Business Week 2008 on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 starting at 11:00 a.m. at the Corpus Christi Country Club, 6300 Everhart Road in Corpus Christi, TX. Seating is limited for the luncheon, so please contact Lisa Farr at 361-698-1021 or go to http://www.sbawards.com/ for reservations.

The local awards luncheon is a part of the National Small Business Week 2008. In celebration of America’s entrepreneurial spirit, the U.S. Small Business Administration will celebrate National Small Business Week 2008 on April 21st- 23rd in Washington, D.C., at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, where more than 100 outstanding business owners from across the country will be recognized. In addition to the State Small Business Persons of the Year, men and women involved in disaster recovery, government procurement, small business champions as well as SBA partners in financial and entrepreneurial development will be honored.

The event is open to the public.

Show your support for Corpus Christi Small Business!
Tickets are available at $25 per person or $250 a table. Visit http://www.sbawards.com to reserve your seat.