ONONDAGA, N.Y. — The Syracuse district office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has recognized a family business in Norwich as a regional Veteran Owned Small Business of the Year. The SBA honored Savurn Memorials, LLC during its May 5 recognition event at Onondaga Community College’s (OCC) Gordon Student Center. Father and son Mark […]
ONONDAGA, N.Y. — The Syracuse district office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has recognized a family business in Norwich as a regional Veteran Owned Small Business of the Year.
The SBA honored Savurn Memorials, LLC during its May 5 recognition event at Onondaga Community College’s (OCC) Gordon Student Center.
Father and son Mark and Alex Williams are part owners of the family-operated business. Mark is a U.S. Air Force veteran and Alex is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, the SBA said.
They own the business with wife/mother Shari and Mark’s other son, Zachary. Savurn Memorials was launched following the tragic loss of daughter Savannah in 2016 due to a vehicular accident. She died Dec. 20. 2016 while preparing to head home for the holidays from college, per the Savurn Memorials website.
The family has worked to grow the business and help other families through difficult times while continuing to honor Savannah, the SBA said.
Michele Catan, advanced certified business advisor with the Binghamton Small Business Development Center, nominated the company for the Veteran Owned award. She met the Williams family back in 2017 when Shari, Mark, and Zach first started thinking about opening their small business.
“We worked together on the business plan, doing financial projections, and just talking about what it’s going to take to start a small business,” Catan told the gathering at OCC. They worked with Brendan Hannan at NBT Bank, and they were able to secure an SBA loan to help them get their business started. Savurn Memorials officially opened May 23, 2018 to “give families a very compassionate and loving way to honor their family members,” Catan said.
In his remarks, Mark Williams called it an “incredible honor” to be recognized as the recipient of the Veteran Owned Business of the Year.
“On behalf of our entire family, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to the SBA for this recognition,” Williams said. “A very special thank you to Michele Catan … for this recognition and your continued support. It means much more than I’m able to say in words.”
Mark Williams continued, “As a veteran-owned business, we strive to carry the values of service, resilience, and community in everything we do. This recognition inspires us to keep pushing forward, growing stronger, and giving back to our families during your darkest times. Thank you again.”
Chenango County in 2019 also recognized Savurn Memorials with a new business award, Catan noted in her remarks.
“They’re dedicated not only to their country but to their business, and, ultimately, their family,” Catan added.
