The Small Business Administration (SBA) hosted its annual award celebration on a beautiful, sunny afternoon on May 1 at the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center. This year marked the first time SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman has been in Milwaukee during Small Business Week, and she was the event’s keynote speaker. Her attendance was an honor and a pleasure for the crowd. Guzman complimented Wisconsin small business owners for their grit, determination, and resilience. She praised the entrepreneurs for bringing hope and change as well as solutions and smiles to their communities.
David Lee, President and General Manager of 89.7 WUWM, Milwaukee’s NPR, emceed the event, presenting eight coveted awards. The Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC) network was thrilled that two of those awards honored the efforts of the SBDC at UW-Madison.
Michelle Somes-Booher accepted the Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Center Award on behalf of her team. The UW-Madison SBDC was lauded for their focus on development of artificial intelligence resources, assistance to Spanish-speaking clients, and training events to support the startup, management, and growth life cycles of entrepreneurship.
SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman and the SBDC at UW-Madison team
One of the UW-Madison SBDC’s clients, Fortune Favors, received the Small Business Persons of the Year award. During his acceptance of the award, Sam McDaniel of Fortune Favors acknowledged the hard work of Amy Bruner Zimmerman, the UW-Madison SBDC consultant who assisted them, introducing her as an additional member of their team and saying, “We would not be here without the SBDC.”
Bruner Zimmerman said, “Working with the Fortune Favors team has been an inspiration. Their successful navigation through COVID, followed by the launch of a new brand and the strategic acquisition of a manufacturing facility, has been truly impressive. It is an honor to work with such a talented and driven team.”
Michele Somes-Booher, Amy Bruner Zimmerman, and the Fortune Favors team
The speakers at the event gave inspiration to the crowd and shared their congratulations with the award recipients. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson announced the proclamation of Small Business Week from April 28 to May 4, 2024, in Milwaukee. Other event speakers included Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s (WEDC) Missy Hughes, SBA Great Lakes Regional Administrator Geri Sanchez Aglipay, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin Sara Rodriguez, and Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce CEO Maysee Herr.
Other Award Winners:
Mike Mueller, SCORE Southeast Wisconsin, Milwaukee – SCORE Mentor of the Year
Heather Lux, WWBIC Southeast Wisconsin, Kenosha/Racine – Women’s Business Center of the Year
Amanda Roman, Domina Consulting, Racine – Minority Small Business Champion
Jenny Ulbricht, East View Coffee, Kenosha – Emerging Small Business of the Year
Theophilus Iyasele, Toki and Associates, Milwaukee – 8(a) Graduate of the Year
Lisa Foster, SCORE Southeast Wisconsin, Milwaukee – National Score Chapter of the Year
Eric Ness, SBA Wisconsin District Director, wrapped up the event by showing a video featuring award winners sharing their challenges, advice, and information on how they used various SBA programs. Congratulations to all the small business winners and to the hosts of this successful event!
Read more about Fortune Favors and the awards.
