LANSING ? More than 350 small business owners and supporters attended the Small Business Association of Michigan?s 45th annual meeting on June 19 in Lansing where Sen. Mike Kowall was recognized as its Legislator of the Year.

?Sen. Kowall has been a champion for small business during his years in both the state house and state senate,? said SBAM President and CEO Rob Fowler. ?His excellent voting record on small business issues demonstrates his willingness to fight for the success of Michigan?s entrepreneurial economy.?

SBAM honored Cynthia Kay, Cynthia Kay and Company, Grand Rapids, as Advocate of the Year and John Bebow, director of Bridge, the online magazine of the Center for Michigan, as Communicator of the Year.

A Candidate Forum with Gov. Rick Snyder, gubernatorial candidate, U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, U.S. Senate candidate, Mark Schauer, gubernatorial candidate and Terri Lynn Land, U.S. Senate candidate, was also conducted.

2014-15 SBAM board officers were introduced at the event:

Bonnie Alfonso, Alfie ? Logo Gear for Work & Play, Traverse City as chair.

1st Vice Chair Jerry Grubb, Wee Discover Child Daycare & Learning Center, Waterford

2nd Vice Chair: Kathie Fuce-Hobohm, SPACE, Inc., Midland

Secretary: Chad Paalman, NuWave Technology Partners, Lansing

Treasurer: Russ Knopp, Comfort Keepers, Traverse City

Immediate Past Chair: Bob Fish, BIGGBY COFFEE

The 2014-15 board members were announced:

Anita Abrol, Lewis & Knopf CPAs, P.C., Flint

Eric Brogan, Brogan, Reed, Van Gorder & Associates, East Lansing

Mike Busley, Grand Traverse Pie Company, Traverse City

Rebecca Cox, The Savant Group, Midland

Janice DuMouchelle, DuMouchelle Art Galleries, Detroit

Larry Eiler, Eiler Communications, Ann Arbor

David Fant, Market Mapping Plus, Kentwood

Milan Gandhi, Med-Share, Inc., Southfield

Doyle Hayes, dhayesGroup, Grand Rapids

Park Kersman, Lorin Industries, Muskegon

Bill Kimble, C2AE, Lansing

Jeff Magowan, Garceau Wenick-Kutz Magowan Insurance Agency, Escanaba

Dr. Jeffrey Miller, Miller Vein, Troy

Lorri Rishar, Edge Partnerships, Lansing

Bob Spence, Spence Brothers, Traverse City

Marie Seipenko, Preferred Solutions, Inc., Northville

Sue Tellier, JetCo Solutions, Grand Rapids

Gary Tipton, FATHOM Works, St. Joseph