NH SBA Announces 2023 Small Businesses of the YEAR!

CONCORD, NH – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) today announced its 2023 New Hampshire Small Business Award winners recognizing outstanding small business owners throughout the state.

Nancy and John Wilbur, owners of Wilbur Technical Services, LLC of Mont Vernon have been selected as SBA’s New Hampshire Small Business Persons of the Year.

For more than 50 years, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.

Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today the 2023 Small Business Persons of the Year from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. See Press Release here.

The SBA will co-host along with SCORE, to honor the nation’s 33 million small businesses who are achieving their American dream — to own and build a strong, resilient business; create jobs; increase competition and innovation, and power America’s historic economic recovery. National Small Business Week (NSBW) will take place from April 30 -May 6, 2023. The virtual summit will acknowledge small businesses from across the country for their resilience, ingenuity, and creativity with a series of events including a live virtual summit, educational sessions, and award presentations. Mr .and Mrs. Wilbur will compete with the Nation’s top small businesses for the honor of National Small Business Person of the Year. Register at sba.gov/nsbw.

Nancy and John began Wilbur Technical Services as a home-based business in 1985 providing air quality monitoring solutions throughout New England with just 2 employees and under $50K in revenues. As of 2022, they have grown to a team of eleven with almost $5MM in sales supporting customers all over the world. They have made significant contributions to U.S. diplomatic efforts worldwide in combatting air pollution.

Wilbur’s contributions have enabled the Department of State to monitor, track, report, and share air quality data with government, industry, and non-governmental organizations.

During the pandemic, Wilbur utilized the Paycheck Protection Program to retain their existing employees and pivoted their operations due to travel restrictions. They built customized mobile units that were shipped to embassies to support and train personnel and added around the clock classes at their facilities to accommodate client’s schedules and time differences. They are passionate about improving air quality across the globe and were recently awarded a gift to support research at Northeastern University in support of The Clean Air, Smart City, and Digital Earth Research Lab. For more information on Wilbur Technical Services, LLC.

“Over the past two years, America has had a record-breaking 10.5 million people apply to start businesses nationally and 332,000 across New England. I’m thrilled to recognize the strong, resilient, and innovative small business award winners leading the way from across New Hampshire,” said Mike Vlacich, SBA New England Regional Administrator. “Small businesses like these are the reason we are emerging from the pandemic stronger. I congratulate them on their achievements and their role in creating jobs and powering our nation’s historic economic comeback. “

Amy Bassett, District Director of the NH SBA office added, “It is our great pleasure to celebrate the success of Nancy and John Wilbur. Their achievements demonstrate that hard work and perseverance through even the most challenging times will lead to entrepreneurial success. This year the Wilbur’s join with an impressive group of NH small business award winners who all demonstrate great leadership and commitment to their businesses and their communities. We look forward to recognizing their success in May during National Small Business Week.”

~ 2023 NH Small Business Week Award Winners ~

Small Business Persons of the Year

Nancy and John Wilbur

Wilbur Technical Services, LLC, Mont Vernon

Home-Based for NH and New England

Susan Lanphear

Beeline Skin Care, Henniker

Micro-Enterprise

Jason Allen

Merrimack County Customs, LLC, Bradford

District Director Award

Andrea O’Brien

Small Business Development Center, Manchester

Veteran Owned

Richard Page

R.A. Page Farmhouse Furniture, LLC, Laconia

Woman Owned

Kerri Dutton

LNA Health Careers, Manchester

Minority Owned

Elizabeth Salas Evans

Cayena Capital Management, Weare

Financial Services Champion

Jim Wilson

Bangor Savings Bank, Portsmouth

Small Business Manufacturer

Anne Ruozzi and James Dudra

Therapy Clean, Somersworth

Jeffrey Butland Family Owned

Kevin Murphy

Industrial Protection Services, Salem

Young Entrepreneur for NH and New England

Nicholas T. Gray

Gray Property Group, Manchester

Small Business Champion

Mary Macdonald

Genuine Local, Laconia

Exporter

Tom Moulton and Kevin McCarthy

Sleepnet, Hampton

Award winners will be honored on Wednesday, May 3rd from 4:00-6:00pm at the annual celebration to be held at the Manchester Country Club in Bedford hosted by the SBA NH District Office and the NH Banker’s Association. For more information on this event contact Cheryl Croto, at Cheryl.croto@sba.gov or 603-225-1407.