It Is Time to Celebrate

May is my favorite month of the year. No, it’s not because it’s my birthday month and I try to do something different and exciting every year to celebrate my birthday. No, it’s not because I love my mother and we celebrate Mother’s Day. No, it’s not because spring is in full swing and the weather is perfect, and the wildflowers are blooming. May is my favorite month of the year because I am passionate about business, especially small entrepreneurial businesses, and the first week of May is National Small Business week.

This time every year small businesses across the Nation are acknowledged for their accomplishments and the amazing things they do as a part of their local community and the larger national economy. It is often said that small business is the backbone of America. Well, that backbone carries quite a burden most of the time. With employee issues, regulations, and tax requirements just to name a few, these businesses continue to prosper.

What’s the difference between a business owner that just gets by and one that thrives? As Art Williams said, “they do what it takes and a little bit more!”

There are five local Kern County businesses that I would like to tell you about who “do what it takes, and a little bit more” and they will soon be recognized for their accomplishments. I don’t have space to go into detail about them but it would certainly be worth your while to look them up and become acquainted with them. Being recognized on May 5 in Bakersfield at the Kern County Small Business Awards luncheon hosted by the Hispanic Chamber of Kern County is Veteran Small Business of the Year award winner Phil Medlen of Classic Lube and Auto Care in Bakersfield and Family owned Ag Business of the year winners, Michael and Michele Dorner of Dorner Family Vineyards in Tehachapi.

On May 3 at an award banquet in Fresno, SBDC Small Business Award winners Josh and Stephanie Lowery of TRIS Technology Solutions located in Bakersfield will receive the Rising Star award along with Rusty and Tina Warren of Warren’s Automotive from Ridgecrest receiving the Veteran Small business of the Year award.

Then, if this is not enough, local favorites Buddy and Nikki Cummings along with their business partner Harvey Stephens of World Wind and Solar will be honored at the Tehachapi Business Outlook conference on May 12 as the SBA District Small Business of the year. Deputy District Director & Public Affairs Officer, Dawn Golik, will be there in person to present the award.

Please help me congratulate these individuals and know that there are many others out there every day working hard to serve their clients and provide for their families that deserve recognition for what they do and will never receive it. They are your family, neighbors, and friends. Let them know you care and offer your support by using their products and services whenever you can.

The CSU Bakersfield Small Business Development Center is part of the UC Merced SBDC Regional Network that serves 14 counties and over 4 million people across Central California.

Jay Thompson is a Business Consultant with the CSU Bakersfield Small Business Development Center. The CSUB SBDC provides premium, one on one, no cost consulting to small business owners in Kern, Inyo and Mono Counties. For more information visit their website at http://www.csub.edu/sbdc.