"Several months ago the Small Business Administration asked for nominations in helping celebrate the many outstanding and successful businesses we have in the great state of Montana and packages came flowing in. The nominations opened our eyes to the many diverse, innovative and stable businesses we have located throughout Montana and Montana will be well represented by the small businesses and champions that were chosen for this year's Small Business Week Awards," the Small Business Administration said in a news release Wednesday.  
 
The winners for the 2010 SBA Small Business Week Awards are:

Small Business Person of the Year

Kim Ormsby, The Natural Baby Company, Bozeman  

Small Business Exporter of the Year

Spencer Williams, West Paw Design, Bozeman  

Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Jed Erickson, Bear Paw Landscapes, Bozeman  

1^st Runner-up Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Carl Christofferson, Lawns of Montana, Missoula  

Family-Owned Small Business of the Year

Byron Stahly, Stahly Engineering & Associates, Inc., Helena  

1^st Runner-up Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Gayle Harris & Arlene Harris, Superior Business Equipment, Great Falls  

Financial Services Champion

Thomas Gorman, Missoula  

Home-based Business Champion

Bill Running Fisher, A2Z4-NDN-ART-LLC, Dodson  

Minority Small Business Champion

Steve Clairmont, S & K Holding Company Inc., Ronan  

Community/Rural Lender of the Year

Bank of Bridger, Red Lodge  

Women in Business Champion

John O'Donnell, TechRanch, Bozeman  

Small Business Community of the Year

PhillCo- City of Malta   
 

The Small Business awards luncheon will be held June 2 at the Gallatin Gateway Inn in Gallatin Gateway. The public is invited to attend and congratulate not only the 2010 winners, but also help celebrate all small businesses across Montana.