2026 SMALL BUSINESS LEADERSHIP AWARD NOMINATIONS
The Small Business Leadership Award was established by William Carey University and the Area Development Partnership in 1990 to recognize the important contributions small businesses make to the economic, social, and cultural life of the community and the particular achievements of one individual or family. The award is given in memory of Dr. Joe Roberts, former professor of communication at William Carey University. Dr. Roberts was also a successful businessman and one of the founders of Aycock-Roberts Furniture.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Nominees are required to be a current member of the Area Development Partnership (ADP)
- Nominees must exhibit respectable character in the community and its mission must not conflict with the mission of William Carey University
- Nominees may be from either “for-profit” or “not-for-profit” sectors
- Previous recipients are not eligible for nomination
- Employ 100 people or less
- Business operations are localized geographically except for marketing
- The business is small compared to the biggest firms in the industry
- Financing of business is supplied by one individual or a small group
NOMINATION PROCEDURE:
- Candidates may self-nominate.
- Candidate should be available to attend SBLA luncheon – Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
- Complete the nomination form below.
- Submit completed nomination form by: Friday, March 27, 2026
Past Small Business Leadership Award Recipients:
1990 – Mr. Jack Simmons, Simmons Furniture Co. 1991 – Mr. Robert E. Donnel, Jr., Vital Care Compounder 1992 – Ms. Jan Lacy, Copy Cats Printing 1993 – Mr. Butch Brown, Parris Jewelers 1994 – Ms. Gwen James, Coldwell Banker 1995 – Mr. Carl Amones, Amones Realty & Tax Service 1996 – Mr. David Rumbarger, Area Development Partnership 1997-98 – Mr. Doug McLelland, McLelland Television, Co. 1999 – Mr. Glenn E. Galey, The Galey Agency, Inc. 2000 – Mr. Allen Anderson, Anderson Retail, Inc. 2001 – Mr. Steven L. Floyd, Floyd Properties, Inc. 2002 – Myrick Family, Economy Supply Company 2003 – Mr. Gene Owens, Owens Business Machines 2004 – Dews Family, C.L. Dews & Sons Foundry & Machine Co. 2006 – Robert St. John, Mid-South Restaurant Group 2007 – Wayne Ross, Commercial Stationery Company 2009 – Dennis Pierce, Piercon, Inc. 2010 – Greg & Steve Moore, Moore Funeral Service 2011 – Phil Hanberry & Chris Hudson, Hanco Corporation 2012 – Karl Ficken, Willmut Gas Company 2013 – Tom White, 206 Front/Bianchi’s Pizzeria 2014 – Wyche McMullan, McMullan Motors 2015 – Kyle Wallace, Shows, Dearman & Waits, Inc. 2016 – Brad Pittman, Columbia Block & Brick 2017 – Gary Carmichael, PrideStaff 2018 – Rob & Craig Tatum, CR Properties, LLC 2019 – Andy Stetelman, London & Stetelman Commercial Realtors 2020 – Donnie and Larry Doleac, Doleac Electric 2021 – Joyce Hicks, Blooms Company 2022 – Lee Parish, Parish Tractor 2023 – Brandy and Abby Thaxton, Lucky Rabbit 2024 – Van and Nicole Jones, A.S.A.A.P, The Shoppe, Ice Cream & More, and Blue Hollow Lake Retreat 2025 – Nelson Haskin, Jr, Front Street Eats
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