LANSING – Entrepreneurs that are driving Michigan’s economy were honored on April 30th at the Lansing Center. Michigan Celebrates Small Business is the state’s premier awards event celebrating small business excellence and the importance of small business success to Michigan’s economy.

“Every year this event gains momentum, and this year is no different,” says Carol Lopucki – State Director of the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center. “The event offers an opportunity to put a spotlight on over 60 small businesses that have helped work to propel Michigan’s economy in 2008. Now in its fifth year, we are ecstatic to bring into the spotlight yet another great Michigan 50 Companies to Watch and other small business awards.”

The keynote speaker was Josh Linkner, ePrize Founder and Chief Executive Officer and a 2005 Michigan 50 Companies to Watch winner.

“The Michigan Small Business event serves the important purpose of honoring organizations that excelled in 2008, even during this economic crises,” Linkner saID. “Their recognition is a symbol of the importance of small business success in the state of Michigan. I am proud to be part of an event that has carried on this important work for the past five years.”

About the Winners

Michigan 50 Companies to Watch

Michigan 50 Companies to Watch is an awards program (list of winners attached) sponsored by the Edward Lowe Foundation and presented by Michigan Celebrates Small Business.

“In today’s economy, Companies to Watch has become a real game changer,” said Penny Lewandowski, director of entrepreneurship development at the Edward Lowe Foundation, a nonprofit operating foundation based in Michigan. “It changes the conversation from slow-growth, layoffs and closings, to companies that are expanding, hiring, and moving beyond traditional markets.”

Companies nominated for the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch list must be second-stage companies, defined as having 6 to 99 full-time-equivalent employees and generating $750,000 to $50 million in annual revenue or working capital from investors or grants. In addition, the companies must be privately held and headquartered in Michigan.

Winners were selected by judges from the banking, economic development, entrepreneurship development and venture capital communities. Judges evaluated the nominees’ demonstrated intent and capacity to grow based on one or more of the following:

Employee or sales growth

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Exceptional entrepreneurial leadership

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Sustainable competitive advantage.

Other notable factors that showcase the company’s success

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U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) of Michigan Small Business Awards

“Michigan’s entrepreneurs and small businesses are critical to turning Michigan’s economy around,” said Richard Temkin, SBA Michigan District Director. “I am very proud that four of our Michigan Champions have gone on to win SBA’s Midwest regional awards. This is the first time that Michigan has had four Midwest winners, and all of them are strong contenders for national honors.”

D. Bruce DeBoer, James S. Rabourn, and Robert L. Emaus, Michigan’s Small Business Persons of the Year (R.E.D. Stamp, Inc., of Byron Center) are in contention for the national award, which will be announced during National Small Business Week, May 17-22.

Other award winners for Michigan are: Michigan and Midwest Region Entrepreneurial Success Award: Avinash Rachmale, President and CEO Lakeshore Engineering Services, Inc., Detroit; Michigan and Midwest Region Jeffery Butland Family-Owned Business of the Year: Harbor Industries, Inc., Grand Haven. Timothy S. Parker, President; Michigan and Midwest Region Small Business Exporter of the Year: SoundOff Signal, Hudsonville. George Boerigter, Chairman of the Board; Michigan and Midwest Region Veteran Small Business Champion: Frank Campanaro, President & CEO, Trillacorpe Construction, Bingham Farms; Michigan Financial Services Champion: Thomas Zernick, VP, Head of SBA Lending, Citizens Bank, East Lansing; Michigan Home-Based Business Champion: Carrin Weirauch, Owner, Down To Earth Toys, Ortonville; Michigan Minority Small Business Champion: James K. Ralph, Jr., President, James Ralph Agency, Inc., Southfield; Michigan Small Business Counselor: Philip Tepley, Technology Team Coordinator, Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center, Grand Rapids; Small Business Journalist of the Year: Matthew Roush, Editor, Great Lakes IT Report, Southfield; Women in Business Champion: Joan L. Purgiel, Vice President, National City Bank, Manistee.

Other Awards

Innovation Award: Plumstone LLC of East Grand Rapids for their Sunstick sunlight measuring gardening accessory. To be eligible for this award, a product or service must have been developed and earned revenue for the first time during 2008 and be nominated to the Small Business Association of Michigan.

Best Small Business – Main Street USA Award: T.M. Klein and Sons Honey & Containers of St. Charles. The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center statewide network consists of 12 regions. Each region internally nominates a small business they have been assisting, for a minimum of one year. These 12 nominations are then be submitted to a panel for further review; one of the 12 is honored at the statewide level.

Government Contracting Award: Silver Star Contracting, LLC, of Detroit. The Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) of Michigan help small firms sell to the government and explore export opportunities. The network of 13 statewide offices nominates a business they have been assisting for a minimum of one year. The nominations are then submitted to a panel for further review.

About Michigan Celebrates Small Business

Five founders that support and celebrate entrepreneurialism in Michigan banded together in 2005 to create Michigan Celebrates Small Business, the state’s premier awards ceremony for entrepreneurs and small business leaders. The event’s founders are the Edward Lowe Foundation, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center, Small Business Association of Michigan and the U.S. Small Business Administration of Michigan.

Event Underwriters are National City (now part of PNC), Clark Hill, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Certified Development Corporation, Accident Fund Insurance Company of America, IBM and Dynamic Edge, Inc.

Media sponsors are Crain’s Detroit Business, WWJ Newsradio 950, MiBiz, The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, Upper Peninsula Today and MITechNews.Com

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