The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Seattle District Office has named Janelle Bruland, President and CEO, Management Services Northwest of Ferndale, Washington, as 2010 Washington State Small Business Person of the Year. Management Services Northwest (MSNW) has become a one-call source for all property-related needs. The company expertly handles its clients’ valued assets through bundled, proactive maintenance and repair work, vendor management, and energy and utility enhancement programs. Bruland’s business mantra, “We’ll Take Care of It” describes the company’s’ work ethic and integrity. Between 2003 and 2008, MSNW grew by an average of 42% per year, with revenue increases from $863,000 in 2003 to just under $5,000,000 in 2008. It has developed into a company of 180 employees who serve over 200 facilities in Washington and Oregon – attending to over three million square feet of commercial, retail, industrial, medical and government property space.
“Bruland exhibits her traits as an entrepreneur by staying ahead of the curve. To position the company for future growth, in 2009 Bruland used an SBA 504 loan from Ameritrust CDC and Wells Fargo Bank to purchase a commercial building and property, expanding from 3400 square feet to a building space of 7200 square feet on 2 acres,” said SBA Seattle District Director Nancy Porzio.
An independent panel of judges selected the winners based on several criteria, including; staying power, business growth, increase in employees, response to adversity, innovation, leadership and contributions to the small business community, and evidence of community-oriented projects. “Janelle Bruland exhibited strength in all areas,” said SBA Regional Administrator Calvin W. Goings. As the state winner, Janelle Bruland will compete with 53 other winners from across the country for the National Small Business Person of the Year Award in Washington D.C.
The Washington state SBA Small Business Awards’ Event – A Big Night for Small Business – will be held in Seattle on April 8th at the Marion Oliver McCaw Hall at Seattle Center. In addition to celebrating Bruland’s outstanding accomplishments, the award ceremony will honor the following state and regional winners (regional winners competed against state winners in AK, ID, OR and WA):
× WA state & Region 10 – Small Business Exporter of the Year – Leonard Felix, CID Bio-Science, Inc., Camas;
× WA state & Region 10 – SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Dan Price, Gravity Payments, Seattle;
× WA state & Region 10 – Family-Owned Business of the Year– Scott Tate, Tate Technology , Inc., Spokane;
× WA state & Region 10 – Home-Based Business Champion – Cheryl L. Sesnon, Washington CASH, Seattle;
Also featured will be 5 (five) state SBA Champion award winners who support and advocate on behalf of small businesses and entrepreneurship.
× WA state SBDC Service Excellence and Innovation Award – John H. Rodenberg, WSU/SBDC, Tacoma;
× WA state – Financial Services Champion – Lynda M. Hamilton, Heritage Bank, Tacoma;
× WA state – Minority Small Business Champion – Christine Chen, Chen Communications, Seattle;
× WA state – Veteran Small Business Champion – Jerrod C. Sessler, HomeTask.com, Seattle;
× WA state – Women in Business Champion – Carole A. Butkus, Washington Business Center, Seattle;
“Our winners remind us that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Washington state,” said Porzio, “and we look forward to honoring their success in Seattle in April”.
For information about SBA’s National Small Business Week 2010 celebrations in Washington, D.C., go to http://www.sba.gov