SBA to recognize additional local awardees as well SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Shawni Davis, owner of Luminary Electrical Services, is the SBA Syracuse district Small Business Person of the Year, chosen “for her impact and economic contributions in Central New York.” Luminary Electrical Services operates at 407 Cambridge Ave. in the town of Salina. The Syracuse […]
SBA to recognize additional local awardees as well
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Shawni Davis, owner of Luminary Electrical Services, is the SBA Syracuse district Small Business Person of the Year, chosen “for her impact and economic contributions in Central New York.”
Luminary Electrical Services operates at 407 Cambridge Ave. in the town of Salina.
The Syracuse district of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is honoring Davis, saying she “has been consistently growing her company and putting more Central New Yorkers to work year after year as well as serving as a beacon for her community through volunteer efforts like the Boys and Girls Club and her work with high school STEM students,” per the SBA’s March 18 announcement.
STEM is short for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The SBA’s Syracuse district office is celebrating its Small Business Person of the Year and three additional honorees as it prepares for National Small Business Week, which will take place May 4-10 of this year.
“It is an honor to celebrate outstanding Upstate New York small business owners,” Dan Rickman, director of the SBA Syracuse district, said in an announcement. “Small businesses do most of the heavy lifting when it comes to creating jobs and strengthening our economy, and this years’ award winners exemplify the American dream of entrepreneurship through their grit and determination.”
SBA’s Syracuse office will use a May 5 ceremony at Onondaga Community College’s Gordon Student Center to recognize both the Small Business Person of the Year and additional local awardees who have “empowered entrepreneurial success, created jobs and driven economic growth in the last year.”
The local awardees include Dr. Kate Robinson, owner of Lyndon Pediatrics, as the Woman Owned Business of the Year; Matthew Peirson, owner of Simple Roast Coffee Company, as the Rural Owned Small Business of the Year; and Mark and Alex Williams, partial owners of Savurn Memorials, which is recognized as the Veteran Owned Small Business of the Year.
About the local awardees
Robinson, originally from Tully, knew from the age of eight that she wanted to be a doctor. “Through sacrifice and hard work,” Robinson realized her dream after being educated at both Cornell University in Ithaca and Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.
She joined Lyndon Pediatrics in 2011 and became its sole owner in 2017. Robinson “continues to exemplify” the lessons her family taught her about taking care of others by volunteering as a clinical teacher at LeMoyne College and Upstate Medical University, the SBA said.
Peirson is a Central New York native and grew up around the food industry. He received his business education through SUNY Oswego while “continuing to cultivate his passion for the food industry,” SBA said.
He started doing business in 2012 utilizing grass roots options like local church commercial kitchen space and selling his goods at farmers markets. He developed relationships with other entrepreneurs like the Brookses of Coffee Mania and has been able to scale his one kiosk operation to a three-location success.
The father and son team of Mark and Alex Williams are part owners of Savurn Memorials, a family-run business. Mark is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and Alex is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. They own the business with wife/mother Shari and Mark’s other son, Zachary.
Savurn Memorials was born from the tragic loss of daughter Savannah in 2016 due to a vehicular accident. The family has worked to grow the business and help other families through difficult times while continuing to honor Savannah, per the SBA announcement.
SBA national recognition
U.S. SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler will acknowledge the National Small Business Person of the Year and national runner up, on May 5 at the National Small Business Week kick off and awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Along with awards ceremonies, the week will include a national small business roadshow with Loeffler, a two-day virtual summit, community events and educational sessions about manufacturing, digital marketing, cybersecurity and cryptocurrency, as well as online business resources and renowned speakers.
