Regional Focus
COMPILED BY SAMANTHA CART
SBA Honors West Virginia’s Top Small Businesses
Earlier this spring, Administrator Linda McMahon, the head
of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), announced
this year’s Small Business Person of the Year winners from the
50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
“It is my honor and distinct pleasure to announce the 52
winners from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico,” says McMahon.
“These small business owners define entrepreneurial spirit
and best represent the 30 million small businesses that are the
backbone and economic engine of our economy.”
West Virginia’s 2018 Small Business Person of the Year is
Douglas Tate, president and CEO of Alpha Technologies, Inc.,
in Hurricane.
In addition to the National Winners, the SBA’s West Virginia
District Office also recognized these district winners during an
awards luncheon at the Robert H. Mollohan Research Center
in Fairmont in May:
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WV Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year –
Arria Hines, Allegheny Science & Technology Corpo-
ration, Bridgeport;
WV Small Business Subcontractor of the Year – Jay-
achandra Reddy, NextGen Federal Systems, LLC,
Morgantown;
WV Small Business Exporter of the Year – Paul Diserio,
American Muscle Docks & Fabrication, LLC, Wellsburg;
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WV Family-Owned Small Business of the Year – Cason
& Bill Edwards, RKE Corporation, St. Marys;
WV Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year –
Michael Paul McKechnie, Mountain View Solar, Berke-
ley Springs;
WV Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year – Kim-
berly Baker, River and Rail Bakery, Huntington;
WV Encore Entrepreneur of the Year – Crista & Roger
Johnson, Screech Owl Brewing, Bruceton Mills;
WV Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Aaron Harris,
Aaron Harris Auction Services, Voga; and
WV Small Business Champion of the Year – Christy
Laxton, Wyoming County Economic Development
Authority, Pineville.
West Virginia Tourism Office
Announces New Almost Heaven Campaign
Governor Jim Justice and the West Virginia Tourism Office
recently launched a new tourism campaign that invites visitors
to find their version of Almost Heaven in the Mountain State.
The campaign launch followed a two-week photo contest,
which generated more than 7,000 submissions, and features
stunning photography that balances scenic beauty, outdoor
recreation and uniquely West Virginia activities and events.
The campaign is inspired by John Denver’s “Country Roads”—
an ode to West Virginia’s scenic beauty and warm hospitality
WWW.WVEXECUTIVE.COM
SPRING 2018
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