On March 14, 2023, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s 33 million small businesses, announced the Small Business Persons of the Year from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

The State, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico winners will be recognized on Sunday, April 30 and Monday, May 1 during the National Small Business Week awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. At the event, one of the state/territory winners will be announced as the 2023 National Small Business Person of the Year.

National Small Business Week (NSBW) will be held from April 30-May 6, 2023.

Out of numerous nominations, one business was selected to represent Alabama as the Small Business Person of the Year (SBPOY) and could potentially be deemed by the administrator as the National Winner of SBPOY.

In addition to the nationally recognized state winner of SBPOY, there are other local level awards representing Alabama-based businesses such as: Minority-Owned, Rural-Owned, Veteran-Owned, and Woman-Owned Small Businesses of the Year.

These awards seek to highlight and recognize Alabama businesses that represent Alabama’s robust and rich culture, contribute to the local economy by creating jobs, and providing innovative goods and services across the nation.

Alabama Small Business Person of Year:

Daryl Thomas of Thomas Accounting and Tax Services LLC – Selma, Alabama

From an early age, Daryl was diagnosed with cerebral palsy that would call his ability to walk and speak into question. However, after successful physical and speech therapy, he was able to not only overcome his physical challenges but also excel in academics, receiving his B.S. in Commerce and Business Administration from the University of Alabama.

After several years of accounting employment through various local government offices, churches, and medical facilities, Daryl Thomas started his own business out of his home in 2009.

By 2015, he moved his business from his home to the current location in Selma, Alabama. Like many small businesses, the Pandemic strained the business, but Daryl was able to take advantage of SBA’s COVID-19 EIDL and keep his business operating. Daryl and his three full-time employees are providing accounting and tax services for local small businesses, churches, and nearly 400 individuals during tax season.

Alabama Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year

Sridhara Gutti of Essnova Solutions, Inc – Birmingham, Alabama

Sridhara Gutti immigrated to the United States from India at the age of 23 and initially started working as a software consultant for an Alabama-based software company.

In 2005, he launched Essnova Solutions as a technology systems integrator with expertise in automation, cloud migration, artificial intelligence, human-centric design, customer experience/engagement, robotic process automation (RPA), GIS/geospatial and other emerging technology implementations for both government and commercial entities.

Over the years, Sridhara has been able to successfully leverage several SBA resources such as: PTAC counseling, the Emerging Leaders initiative, and is currently participating in the SBA 8(a) Business Development program. Lastly, he was previously named the 2020 Alabama Winner of the Small Business Person of the Year during National Small Business Week.

Alabama Rural-Owned Small Business of the Year

Christina Woerner McInnis of Soilkit by AgriTech Corporation – Foley, Alabama

Christina Woerner McInnis is a fifth-generation farmer from the Woerner Family and her family has been farming Alabama soils for over 100 years.

In 2019, Christina founded of AgriTech Corp and created the product “SoilKit” which is a soil health technology platform that starts with a lab-based soil test and finishes with the virtual SoilKit365 annual program providing prescriptive product recommendations throughout the year that are customized based on the crop the user is growing, the chemistry in their soil, and the seasonality of their hardiness zone. Initially, when SoilKit first went to market, it was only direct-to-consumers at soilkit.com and online on Amazon.

Under Christina’s leadership, AgriTech Corp landed contracts with eight lawn and garden distributors, one major land grant university, one big box retailer and dozens of landscape companies in its first year of operation. Like many businesses, ArgTech had suffered during the pandemic as a young company but was able to secure SBA’s paycheck protection program (PPP) forgivable loans and an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) COVID-10 relief.

Alabama Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year

Sydney Cody of Vanguard Pacific – Foley, Alabama

Sydney Cody served for nearly six years as a Naval Officer in the Civil Engineers Corps, where she worked for Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command as the Assistant Resident Officer in Charge of Construction for military construction projects. She also completed a tour of duty overseas in Djibouti, Africa where she led approximately 120 Seabees executing various rudimentary construction projects across the continent, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

She purchased 51% Ownership of Vanguard Pacific in 2016, assuming 100% ownership in 2020. Vanguard Pacific is a government construction company with services ranging from green field facilities, renovation of occupied spaces, HVAC, roofing, painting, protective coatings, and a disaster response and is currently participating in the SBA 8(a) Business Development program.

Alabama Women-Owned Small Business of the Year

Angela Howald of AcqCentric, Inc. – Huntsville, Alabama

Angela Howald, an Army Veteran, settled in Huntsville with her family after service and she was able to leverage her military and contractor experience to start AcqCentric in 2015. AcqCentric provides contractor expertise in missile/radar systems engineering, program management, cyber security, operations, and sustainable planning for defense clients.

She has utilized local SBA resource partners such as the Huntsville-based women’s business center, The Catalyst Center, and the Procurement and Technical Assistance Center of the University of Alabama Huntsville (PTAC at UAH) which help AcqCentric connect to contracting opportunities, obtain competitive certificates, and guidance through the SBA 8(a) Business Development program requirements. The company began from the dining room table and now operates in a 1,300 square foot office space of Research Park.

Like many companies nationwide, AcqCentric had to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, quickly adapting strategies, they were able to keep employees safe, encouraged, and had minimal work interruption. In the last three years, AcqCentric has added four more employees and has more than doubled their net worth.

For more information and a full list of nominees, please visit www.sba.gov/national-small-business-week.