Keith Stokes, Claudia Cardozo-Tarullo Recipients of 2010 Small Business Awards
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May 17, 2010 | Print this page | Share This |
Two representatives of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC) are among the eight 2010 Rhode Island small business award winners announced last week by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
RIEDC Executive Director Keith Stokes is the recipient of the Rhode Island SBA District Director Award. Small Business Account Executive Claudia Cardozo-Tarullo was named the Minority Small Business Champion of the Year.
“I extend congratulations to Keith and Claudia on being honored by the SBA,” said Governor Donald L. Carcieri. “The EDC leadership team, staff and board of directors have made a renewed commitment to be more responsive to the needs of our existing businesses, and this distinction by the SBA is recognition that we are successfully setting a new course for economic development in Rhode Island. Through innovative programs such as Every Company Counts, and the new Office of Regulatory Reform, I recently created through Executive Order, we are making a significant investment in our business community; an investment that will pay dividends for years to come."
Since his appointment to head the RIEDC, Keith Stokes has worked to make the growth of small businesses in Rhode Island a top priority. As part of the agency’s recently board-approved Immediate Priorities Implementation Plan, RIEDC will recapitalize its Small Business Loan Fund, establish an Office of Regulatory Reform to cut government red tape and remove barriers to the establishment and growth of small business.
Legislation is currently pending before the General Assembly that would enable the Governor to appoint representatives of small business to four of the 12 seats on the RIEDC’s board of directors. This legislation is a result of the SBA’s 2010 legislative recommendations and is part of a broad regulatory reform package unveiled earlier this month by Governor Donald Carcieri, Keith Stokes, legislative leaders and the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce.
“It is appropriate that we recognize Keith Stokes for his many years of advocacy on behalf of the Rhode Island small business community,” said Mark S. Hayward, director of the SBA Rhode Island District Office. “Claudia Cardozo-Tarullo is a role model for minority-owned small businesses across the state. I congratulate Keith for his leadership and Claudia for making a difference by helping minority small businesses start, grow and succeed.”
Claudia Cardozo-Tarullo is a tireless advocate and resource for small business in Rhode Island meeting with small business owners to provide them with the assistance they need to help their businesses succeed. She is part of the RIEDC’s small business initiative, Every Company Counts (ECC). The program has been Rhode Island’s small business connection since 2004, bringing the small business community the necessary tools and resources to survive in any economy. Each year, thousands of Rhode Island’s small businesses rely on ECC for timely information to help them grow and become competitive.
Each of the award recipients will be honored at the Rhode Island Salute to Small Business Awards luncheon on June 2 at the Alpine Country Club in Cranston. The event is co-sponsored by the SBA and the Joseph G.E. Knight SCORE (Service Corps. of Retired Executives) Providence Chapter.
About RIEDC
The Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation is the full service, official economic development organization for the state of Rhode Island. A quasi-public agency, RIEDC serves as a government and community resource to help streamline the business expansion in, and relocation to, Rhode Island. The agency assists companies with commercial real estate, business financing, workforce training and other relevant issues.
About SBA
The U.S. Small Business Administration was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. We recognize that small business is critical to our economic recovery and strength, to building America’s future, and to helping the United States compete in today’s global marketplace. Although SBA has grown and evolved in the years since it was established in 1953, the bottom line mission remains the same. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses.
