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SBA Honors 2018 Rhode Island Small Business Award winners

[CREDIT: Ryan Brissette, Small Business Administration] From left, Lieutenant Governor, Daniel J. McKee; SBA Regional Administrator, Wendell G. Davis; President of Jade Manufacturing, Donald J. Boyle; SBA District Director, Mark S. Hayward; Secretary of State, Nellie M. Gorbea during the “Salute to Small Business” luncheon on Friday, May 11, at Kirkbrae Country Club.
[CREDIT: Ryan Brissette, Small Business Administration] From left, Lieutenant Governor, Daniel J. McKee; SBA Regional Administrator, Wendell G. Davis; President of Jade Manufacturing, Donald J. Boyle; SBA District Director, Mark S. Hayward; Secretary of State, Nellie M. Gorbea during the “Salute to Small Business” luncheon on Friday, May 11, at Kirkbrae Country Club.
[CREDIT: Ryan Brissette, Small Business Administration] Leah Luo, COO of Doctor’s Choice accepting the Rhode Island Young Entrepreneur award on behalf of Dr. Johnny Luo, who was unable to attend., during the “Salute to Small Business” luncheon on Friday, May 11, at Kirkbrae Country Club.
[CREDIT: Ryan Brissette, Small Business Administration] Leah Luo, COO of Doctor’s Choice accepting the Rhode Island Young Entrepreneur award on behalf of Dr. Johnny Luo, who was unable to attend., during the “Salute to Small Business” luncheon on Friday, May 11, at Kirkbrae Country Club.
WARWICK, RI — The U.S. Small Business Administration honored the 2018 Rhode Island Small Business Award winners May 11 at the “Salute to Small Business” luncheon on Friday, May 11, at Kirkbrae Country Club in Lincoln, including Doctor’s Choice and Jade Manufacturing in Warwick.

In keeping with tradition, Governor Raimondo proclaimed the week of May 6 – May 12, “Rhode Island Small Business Week.” This year’s winners include 21 small business owners across 14 distinct award categories, including two Warwick businesses:

SBA Awardees

Small Business Person of the Year – Kelly Mendell, President of MIKEL (Middletown)

National Subcontractor of the Year – David Evans, President of Evans Capacitor Co. (East Providence)

New England Financial Services Champion – Buck Harris, V.P. of Community Lending, Community Investment Corporation (Providence)

[CREDIT: Ryan Brissette, Small Business Administration] Donald Boyle, president of Jade Manufacturing accepting the Rhode Island Small Business Manufacturer of the Year award, during the “Salute to Small Business” luncheon on Friday, May 11, at Kirkbrae Country Club.
[CREDIT: Ryan Brissette, Small Business Administration] Donald Boyle, president of Jade Manufacturing accepting the Rhode Island Small Business Manufacturer of the Year award, during the “Salute to Small Business” luncheon on Friday, May 11, at Kirkbrae Country Club.
New England Veteran-Owned Small Business – John Shepard, CEO of Veterans Assembled electronics (Providence)

New England Woman-Owned Small Business – Carol Dancer, President of Absorbent Specialty Products (Cumberland)

RI District Director Award – Posthumously Cheryl Watkins Snead, CEO of Banneker Industries (North Smithfield)

RI Small Business Exporter – AVTECH Software: Michael Sigourney, CEO; Anne Sigourney, CFO; Richard Grundy, President & COO (Warren)

RI Small Business Manufacturer – Donald Boyle, President of Jade Manufacturing Company (Warwick)

RI Microenterprise – Nancy Warner, Owner of The Worm Ladies of Charlestown (Charlestown)

RI Minority-Owned Small Business – Alba Rios, Owner of Tienda Alinary (Central Falls)

RI Young Entrepreneur – Johnny Luo M.D., President of Doctor’s Choice (Warwick)

RI Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Small Business – Gil’s Appliances: Lisa Sienkiewicz,
Co-owner; Gail Parella, Co-owner (Bristol)

RI Home-Based Small Business – Stony Hill Cattle Company: Kim Coulter, William Coulter, Nina Luchka, Josh Coulter; Partners (Charlestown)

Joseph G.E. Knight Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence – Christine Francis, Owner of Carmen & Ginger (Providence)

[CREDIT: Ryan Brissette, Small Business Administration] From left, Lieutenant Governor, Daniel J. McKee; SBA Regional Administrator, Wendell G. Davis; COO of Doctor’s Choice, Leah Luo and SBA District Director, Mark S. Hayward, during the “Salute to Small Business” luncheon on Friday, May 11, at Kirkbrae Country Club.
[CREDIT: Ryan Brissette, Small Business Administration] From left, Lieutenant Governor, Daniel J. McKee; SBA Regional Administrator, Wendell G. Davis; COO of Doctor’s Choice, Leah Luo and SBA District Director, Mark S. Hayward, during the “Salute to Small Business” luncheon on Friday, May 11, at Kirkbrae Country Club.
Rob Borkowski
Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at editor@warwickpost.com with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.

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