The time has come again for the U.S. Small Business Administration to collect nominations for the 2025 National Small Business Week Awards. The NSBW Awards recognize the outstanding achievements, triumphs, contributions, and resilience of SBA-assisted small businesses that help to drive the American economy. Last year SBA’s West Virginia District Office celebrated National Small Business Week in Fairmont, WV on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 with a luncheon awards ceremony for five small businesses.
Here is a little information about our 2024 WV Small Business Week Winners:
- Small Business Week Small Business Person of the Year: Lisa Fritsch, Peter Fritsch, Adam Leach & Chet Tobrey – Agile5 Technologies, Inc. (Fairmont, WV)
Lisa Fritsch, Peter Fritsch, Adam Leach & Chet Tobrey are the owners and executive team of Agile5 Technologies, Inc., a systems architecture and software development firm specializing in enterprise software systems for the U.S. Government. In 2011, Agile5 started as a vision to improve the future of technical and program management support. Twelve years later the business has grown from an 80 square foot office to an operation of more than 90 employees in two locations, in North Central West Virginia and Huntsville, Alabama.
In the early years, Agile5, like many small businesses, faced issues obtaining access to capital. The executive team knew to expand their business they needed to bring on more employees. Their short-term capital could not cover more than two months of payroll and receivables could take up to 75 days to collect from some clients. SBA was able to step in and offer an SBA-backed line of credit that was approved within a week. In addition, they have received SBA assistance through counseling with the SBDC, training from the West Virginia District Office, and contracting guidance with WOSB and HUBZone certifications.
- WV Veteran Small Business Week Small Business Person: James Merrill – Hasten Services LLC (Morgantown, WV)
James Merrill holds many titles: son, husband, father, retired WV State Police Captain, military veteran, and CEO of Hasten Services LLC. Hasten Services is a quality facility management company offering professional and technical services in the areas of janitorial, maintenance, security services, private investor service, polygraph testing, and general contractor services. In 2020 Hasten services was formed in a 300 square foot office in an attic of an existing space with one employee. In three years, by 2023, the operation had expanded to a 2800 square foot building in Morgantown and extended to Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina.
Hasten Services has used many SBA resource partners, including: SBDC coaching with Sharron Stratton and Frank Goldsborough. The coaching they provided was instrumental in Merrill starting Hasten Services. They have also provided coaching in the government contracting arena and connected Merrill with SBA’s WV District Office where he received training to become HUBZone certified. With the help of the SBDC, Merrill was able to secure a $10,000 grant from the city for business improvements.
- WV Family-Owned Small Business of the Year: Jae C Lehew – S&S Fine Diamonds and Jewelry (New Martinsville, WV)
S&S Diamonds and Fine Jewelry is a family-owned small business in New Martinsville, WV. They have been serving the local communities in and around Wetzel County for more than forty years.
Jae C Lehew, current owner of S&S Fine Diamonds and Jewelry, made her first jewelry sale at the family-owned business at the age of five when she convinced a customer to purchase a strand of pearls. Previously, the business was owned by her father, Steve, and Jae C spent many holiday seasons assisting with sales and wrapping. She officially started working at the business in 1996. In 2017, her father was diagnosed with a serious health condition and Jae C officially took over ownership of the business. The business is a long time SBDC client. Throughout their 18-year relationship the SBDC has assisted the business with loan packaging, marketing and general business counseling.
- WV Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year: Ashley Mason – Charlotte’s Café LLC (Berkeley Springs, WV )
Ashley Mason is the owner of Charlotte’s Café LLC, a full-service restaurant located in the heart of Berkeley Springs, WV. For more than four years, the establishment has developed a dedicated following of locals as well as tourists who flock to the area for the historic mineral springs. Mason declared when she was five years old that when she grew up, she wanted to be a “cooker.” Her grandmother Charlotte, for whom the restaurant was named, decided it was a good time to start teaching Charlotte the family cookie recipes. The rest is what you call history.
Since opening, Mason has kept track of the needs of their customers as well as their local community. They started with a staff of 11 and have increased to 16. Charlotte’s Café has received several forms of assistance from SBA and credit the agency for their ability to weather the COVID pandemic. The business has been a client of the SBCD since their start up days. They also hold two SBA-guaranteed 7(a) loans, first for start up costs and second to purchase a building nearby to use as a Bed & Breakfast Inn. During the pandemic, the business utilized the deferral for six months for their current SBA loans, the $10,000 EIDL Advance, and PPP first and second draws.
If you are interested in nominating yourself or a small business owner in your area for the 2025 National Small Business Week awards, you can download related forms, criteria, and guidelines, by visiting sba.gov/nsbw. All nominations must be submitted electronically by 4 p.m. ET on December 5, 2024. The awards will be presented during the NSBW Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., from May 4-10, 2025 and district level awards presented locally during the same week.
