Vermont Business Magazine The president and owner of Maple Landmark was today named the 2017 Vermont Small Business Person of the Year. Michael Rainville is being recognized by the US Small Business Administration for Maple Landmark's employment growth, financial success, expansion and community involvement. Rainville is now a finalist for the 2017 National Small Business Person of the Year. Vermont's Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield of Ben & Jerry's Homemade were presented the national award by President Reagan in 1988.
"It's a privilege to have Maple Landmark recognized for its efforts," said Rainville. "Throughout the years we have been recognized for our toys, but this is the first time Maple Landmark has been recognized for its overall business operations."
Headquartered in Middlebury, Vermont Maple Landmark manufactures eco-friendly wooden games and toys, such as jigsaw puzzles and trains. Maple Landmark started in 1979 in Rainville's parents' basement. Today the company occupies a 28,000-square-foot facility.
"We are extremely proud to be a Vermont manufacturer. There were times when it was tempting to think about going overseas, but we know what we are. We are an American company that likes to make stuff," said Rainville.
Each year Vermont small businesses compete for a variety of awards in addition to Small Business Person of the Year. The SBA awarded four businesses in other categories.
Bee's Wrap located in Bristol is awarded the Woman-Owned Business of the Year. Founded in 2012 by Sarah Kaeck, the company mixes cotton and bee's wax to make a reusable natural substitute to plastic wrap for food storage.
Veteran-Owned Business of the Year is awarded to Buermann Engineering located in Grand Isle. A former Navy Reservist who retired in 2015 after 20 years of service, Jay Beurmann's firm provides civil engineering services for commercial, industrial and residential properties on islands throughout Lake Champlain.
Gretchen Hardy, co-owner of Hardy Foard Catering, is awarded Young Entrepreneur of the Year. The 32-year-old entrepreneur started the Brattleboro-based company with Bo Foard in 2010. What started out as a small commercial kitchen is now a large-scale operation with 20 employees catering more than 40 weddings a year.
Schill Landscape Group located in Essex is awarded the Family-Owned Business of the Year. Blake Schill started the company with his father in 1998. The company offers landscape design, installation and maintenance for residential, commercial and government clients.
Rainville and the other Vermont small business winners will be presented their awards during the 2017 Vermont Small Business Awards Ceremony cohosted by Vermont Business Magazine in June.
"We have an incredible group this year. Each award recipient started his or her company as a microenterprise with little to no employees. Today they are all thriving Vermont companies combining to employ nearly 100 Vermonters," said Darcy Carter, SBA Vermont District Office Director.
The ceremony is open to the public and registration will be available in May.
Maple Landmark and the Small Business Person of the Year winners from each state have been invited to attend ceremonies in Washington, DC, April 30 and May 1. During this time they will be honored with their individual award along with the naming of the 2017 National Small Business Person of the Year.
Administrator Linda McMahon, head of the USSBA, announced this year's Small Business Person of the Year winners from the 50 states, theDistrict of Columbia,Puerto Rico,Guamand theUSVirgin Islands.
"It is my honor and distinct pleasure to announce the 54 winners from across the USand its territories," McMahon said. "These small business owners define entrepreneurial spirit and best represent the 28 million small businesses that are the backbone and economic engine for today's economy. I look forward to welcoming the winners toWashingtonnext month when they are officially honored for their achievements."
Each year since 1963, the president has issued a proclamation calling for the celebration of National Small Business Week. National Small Business Week is set as the first week in May, and this year the dates areApril 30–May 6with national events planned inWashington, D.C.,New York City,Indianapolis,DallasandFresno, Calif.
2017 Small Business Person of the Year Winners
ALABAMA
Jodie Ray Stanfield
Owner
Local Joe's Trading Post
Rainbow City, AL35906
ALASKA
David McCarthy
CEO
Jason Motyka
CFO
Denali Visions 3000
Denali Park, AK 99755
ARIZONA
Vickie Herd
Manager
Extended Family Disability Services, LLC/Bella Rose
Chandler, AZ85286
ARKANSAS
Victoria A. Washington
President
Vision Information Technology Consultants LLC
Little Rock, AR72204
CALIFORNIA
Lars Christopher Herman
President
Herman Construction Group, Inc.
Escondido, CA92029
COLORADO
Lorena P. Cantarovici
Owner
Maria Empanada
Denver, CO80210
CONNECTICUT
Carla Bartolucci
President
Euro-USATrading Co., Inc.
North Stonington, CT06359
DELAWARE
Donna L. Vanderwende
Owner
Vanderwende Farm Creamery
Bridgeville, DE19933
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Robert W. Dozier Jr.
President & CEO
RWD Consulting, LLC
Washington, DC20036
FLORIDA
Paul Morrow
President
South Dave Air Conditioning and
Refrigeration
Homestead, FL33033
GEORGIA
Kevin B. Boykin
CEO
Path-Tec, LLC
Midland, GA31820
GUAM
Derrick Muna Quinata
CEO/Dealer Principal
Monster Auto Corp.
Dba Guam Autospot
Hagatna,Guam96932
HAWAII
Garrett Marrero
President & CEO
Melanie Oxley
Vice President & COO
Maui Brewing Company
Kihei, HI96753
IDAHO
Eric L. Browning
CEO, Owner and Manager
Steven J. Browning
CFO, Co-Owner
Blue Spring Partners, LLC
Dba Fin Fun
Idaho Falls, ID83401
ILLINOIS
Sonat Birnecker Hart
President
Robert Birnecker
CEO
Koval, Inc.
Dba Koval Distillery, Inc.
Chicago, IL60613
INDIANA
Joey Rivera, Ph.D.
President & CEO
Rivera Consulting Group
A Highway 311
Sellersburg, IN47172
IOWA
Benny Duane Puck
President
Puck Custom Enterprises, Inc.
Manning, IA51455
KANSAS
Ken Bellesine
Owner
Central Electropolishing Co., Inc.
Anthony, KS67003
KENTUCKY
Debra Dudley
President
Oscarware, Inc.
Bonnieville, KY42713
LOUISIANA
Alejandro (Alex) Hernandez
President
Hernandez Consulting & Construction
New Orleans, LA70119
MAINE
Leigh S. Kellis
Founder/Owner
The Holy Donut
Portland, ME04101
MARYLAND
Kara DiPietro
CEO
HMC Incorporated
Columbia, MD21046
MASSACHUSETTS
Victoria Bondoc
President & CEO
Gemini Industries, Inc.
Burlington, MA01803
MICHIGAN
Jon Lanning
President, Finance
Inontime, LLC
Zeeland, MI49464
MINNESOTA
Shirley Joann Wikner
CEO
Aviation Charter and Executive Aviation
Eden Prairie, MN55347
MISSISSIPPI
Mary J. Russell
President and Founder
Sugaree's Bakery
New Albany, MS38652
MISSOURI
Phillip Cohen
Founder and President
Cohen Architectural Woodworking
Saint James, MO65559
MONTANA
Mark Bretz
CEO and Chairman of the Board
Bretz RV and Marine
Missoula, MT59808
NEBRASKA
Cody C. Brooks
Owner
Chrystal Brooks
Co-Owner
White River Feed, LLC
Chadron, NE69337
NEVADA
Dr.Eva D. Littman
Owner
Littman Medical Services, PC
dba Red Rock Fertility
Sunset Surgery Center, LLC
Las Vegas, NV89148
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Jake Reder
CEO
Celdara Medical, LLC
Lebanon, NH03766
NEW JERSEY
Dr.Lisa Aumiller
Dr.Lisa Aumiller, LLC
Dba HousePaws Mobile Veterinary Service
Mt. Laurel, NJ08054
NEW MEXICO
Mario Burgos
President & CEO
David Burgos
Vice President
Burgos Group LLC
Albuquerque, NM87114
NEW YORK
Pamela Newman
CEO
ISS Action
Queens, NY11434
NORTH CAROLINA
Michelle Coffino
Owner
Queen City Metal Recycling & Salvage, LLC
2800 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC28206
NORTH DAKOTA
Eric Mauch
CEO
Carla Dean Schwartzenberger
Razor Consulting Solutions, Inc.
& Razor Tracking, Inc.
Watford City, ND58854
OHIO
Robert Chapman Kocian
President
The Auto Bolt Company
Cleveland, OH44135
OKLAHOMA
Melinda Stinnett
Managing Director
Stinnett & Associates
Tulsa, OK74137
OREGON
Brandon James Vaughn
President
All-Clean Property Maintenance LLC
Troutdale, OR97060
PENNSYLVANIA
Elvin Eugene Stoltzfus
President
Pik Rite, Inc.
Lewisburg, PA17837
PUERTO RICO
Victor Miguel Rivera Solanas
President
Maria Paula Rivera Solanas
Vice President
Atencion Atencion
San Juan, PR 00926
RHODE ISLAND
Gary M. Palardy
President and CEO
Blue Moon Industries
Providence, RI02908
SOUTH CAROLINA
Vickie Wyatt
President
J.I.T. Manufacturing
Cowpens, SC29330
SOUTH DAKOTA
Beth Hanna
Owner/Director
Building Blocks Childcare and Learning Center, LLC
Brandon, SD57005
TENNESSEE
Dan LeVan
CEO
SED, Inc.
Dba EnerG3
Chattanooga, TN37405
TEXAS
Deborah Paris
President and Manager
StraCon Services Group, LLC
Fort Worth, TX76109
UTAH
Stefanie Bevans
CEO
Joshua Bevans
CTO
Design To Print, Inc.
St. George, UT84770
VERMONT
Michael Lawrence Rainville
President
Maple Landmark, Inc.
Middlebury, VT05753
VIRGINIA
Corliss Udoema
President & CEO
Contract Solutions, Inc.
Manassas, VA20109
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Kevin Joseph Schnell
Owner/Operator
Maya Alissa Matthews-Sterling
Owner/Manager
Caribbean Solar Company LLC
St. John, VI 00830
WASHINGTON
Rozanne Garman
President
RHD Enterprises, Inc.
Lacey, WA98503
WEST VIRGINIA
Matthew Paul Knott
President & CEO
River Riders, Inc. and Clarion Inn Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry, WV25425
WISCONSIN
Kristina Pence-Dunow
President & CEO
Double K, Inc.,
Dba Hometown Trolley, Inc.
Crandon, WI54520
WYOMING
Janie Celeste Wait
President
Intermountain Record Center, Inc.
3765 Airport Parkway
Casper, WY82604
About the Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 and sinceJanuary 13, 2012has served as a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers its services to people throughoutthe United States,Puerto Rico, theU.S. Virgin IslandsandGuam.www.sba.gov
SOURCES: Small Business Administration Vermont, Montpelier. PRNewswire-USNewswire --U.S. Small Business Administration. WASHINGTON,March 16, 2017.