LANSING – Michigan?s outstanding small businesses received recognition on April 28 as the state?s major business organizations and agencies collaborated for what they hope will become an annual awards ceremony. Michigan Celebrates Small Business also named the 50 Companies to Watch in Michigan. More than half the companies named are technology-based businesses.
The sold-out inaugural event had more than 450 small business owners and supporters of small business attending. The black-tie optional celebration was held at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing, with a private reception with Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who gave the opening address.
?It?s a dynamic collaboration by key organizations that have previously bestowed their own awards each year, but are now coming together at one event that celebrates entrepreneurship,? says Rob Fowler, president and CEO of SBAM. ?We believe we?ve created a more meaningful and inclusive statewide program to honor small business.?
The event was hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration/Michigan, the Small Business Association of Michigan, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center and the Edward Lowe Foundation.
Awards presented included:
Innovation of the Year
Compact computed tomography (CT) scanners,
Xoran Technologies, Inc ? Ann Arbor,
Predrag (?Pedja?) Sukovic ? Co-Founder, President and CEO,
Neal H. Clinthorne, Vice President/Co-Founder
Procurement Technical Assistance Centers,
Government Contract Procurement Award,
Marsh Industrial, Inc. ? Kalkaska,
Don and Deb Marsh
Best Small Business, Main Street USA,
Quality Air of Midland, Inc. ? Midland
Michael Fox, Owner and CEO
Small Business Person of the Year,
Michael D. McCormack, Chairman & CEO,
Rachel M. McCormack, President and CFO,
MicroMax, Inc. ? Canton
Minority Small Business Champion of the Year,
Enrique Carillo, Vice President of Public Affairs
Comerica Bank ? Detroit
Women in Business Champion of the Year,
Rita Ann Hendrickson VanderVen, Executive Director,
Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women ? Grand Rapids
Michigan and Midwest Region Small Business Journalists of the Year
Jeff and Rich Sloan, Co-founders, Startup Nation ? Birmingham
Michigan and Midwest Region Financial Services Champion of the Year,
Herbert D. Doan, Chairman, Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation ? Midland
Family-Owned Small Business of the Year,
Suk-Kyu Koh, President,
Chrysan Industries, Inc. ? Plymouth
Small Business Counselor of the Year,
Vikram Mathur, Associate Region 9 Director,
Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center ? Livonia
In addition, 50 Companies to Watch in Michigan were recognized. The awards were sponsored by the Edward Lowe Foundation. Twenty six of the 60 companies are involved in a technology related business. To read the complete list, click on The Michigan 50, Technology-Related Businesses
