SBA South Dakota names 2022 Small Businesses of the Year, to be honored in virtual ceremony

Each year, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) celebrates National Small Business Week (NSBW) by recognizing the achievements of outstanding small business owners and entrepreneurs across the United States. This year, NSBW takes place May 1-7 across the nation and U.S. territories. The SBA South Dakota District Office is honoring all SBA SD 2022 Small Businesses of the Year and the SBA SD Small Business Person of the Year in a virtual ceremony May 3, 2022, 2:00 PM CDT.  The public is invited to join at ow.ly/iNhZ50IGqMa.

The SBA SD outstanding small business award recipients for 2022 include:

Small Business Person of the Year – Karla Santi, Chief Executive Officer/Founder, Blend Interactive, Inc., Sioux Falls

Small Business Exporter of the Year – Mark Luecke, Prairie AquaTech, Brookings

Family-Owned Small Business of the Year – The Novstrup Family, Wylie Thunder Road, Aberdeen

Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year – Mulugeta and Marta Endayeau, Lalibela Restaurant, Sioux Falls 

Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year – Thomas Catron, Dakota Solace Home Care, LLC dba Home Instead, Mitchell

Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year – Tara Pirak, Valley Ag Supply, Inc., Gayville

Young Entrepreneurs of the Year – Robert “Zane” Swan and Stephen Swan, HeSapa Enterprises LLC, Rapid City 

Small Business Champion of the Year – Bill Zortman, Radio Host, “It’s Your Business”, KELO AM 1320, Sioux Falls 

“National Small Business Week is a pinnacle celebration each year, where we collectively honor and amplify South Dakota’s top business owners,” said Jaime Wood, SBA South Dakota District Director. “This year’s winners are an outstanding representation of the nearly 90,000 small businesses owners across our state. They work tirelessly to create employment opportunities, provide much needed products and services, and go the extra mile to volunteer time and talent where needed for advisory boards, community projects, and events.” 

About National Small Business Week

For more than 51 years, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week, recognizing 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.  As part of National Small Business Week, the SBA takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from all 50 states and U.S. territories. For more information on National Small Business Week, and to register to join the National Virtual Awards Ceremony taking place May 5, visit www.sba.gov/nsbw.

For a calendar of upcoming small business training and information events and to connect to local small business assistance, visit www.sba.gov/sd.