SBA Taps Jim Blasingame
To Emcee Hall of Fame Ceremonies
.

Today the U.S. Small Business Administration announced that Administrator Hector Barreto has asked Jim Blasingame to preside over one of the cornerstone events of SBA Expo ’05, which is a celebration of Small Business Week, in Washington, D.C., April 25-29, 2005.

On Wednesday evening, April 27th, Blasingame will emcee the Hall of Fame Awards Dinner at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium, during which the SBA will honor several national businesses, each having begun as a small business, and have with support from the SBA, risen to national prominence as an outstanding employer, corporate citizen and leader in the marketplace. This event is being co-sponsored by IBM. Go to www.sba.gov/expo for more information.

Blasingame is the president of Small Business Network Inc., and the creator and award-winning host of the nationally syndicated radio/Internet talk show, The Small Business AdvocateSM Show. Blasingame is also a syndicated newspaper columnist and author of Small Business Is Like A Bunch Of Bananas.

In addition to the Hall of Fame inductees, this event will also honor the top lenders who support small businesses through the SBA’s loan guarantee programs.

"We’re grateful to Jim for always making his talents and energy available to the SBA," said Hector V. Barreto, SBA Administrator. "His steadfast support of our efforts is reflected in his passion for helping entrepreneurs follow their dreams. The SBA and small business owners are fortunate to have such a prolific contributor to entrepreneurship and the marketplace of ideas."

“I’m excited and honored to be invited back for the eighth consecutive year to work with the SBA during Small Business Week,” said Blasingame. “The Hall of Fame dinner is an important event in the work the SBA does to support and recognize small businesses each year. And I feel especially honored to be asked to fill the shoes of the two past emcees of this event, Ed McMahon and Congressman Dick Armey.”

SBA Expo ’05 director and Associate Administrator, Adela Soriano said, “You don't have to be around Jim Blasingame for very long to benefit from his energy and professionalism. He makes sure every event he does for us is focused and fun.”

In 2005, for the third consecutive year, Blasingame was named by TALKERS Magazine as a member of the Heavy Hundred, the 100 most important talk show hosts in America. He was the recipient of the SBA’s 2002 Small Business Journalist of the Year award, and FORTUNE Small Business magazine identified him as one of the 30 most influential people in America representing small business. Blasingame is also a member of the SBA’s National Advisory Council.

Small Business Network, Inc. (SBN) produces and distributes multi-media small business content worldwide, including The Small Business AdvocateSM Show, which broadcasts nationwide on radio, plus a live Internet simulcast, and two on-demand Internet audio streams. The SBN Web site is www.jbsba.com.

Contact:
Adela Soriano, Associate Administrator
Office of Communications and Public Liaison
U.S. Small Business Administration
(202) 205-6444

Contact:
Small Business Network, Inc.
Davonna Hickman, Vice President
888-823-2366 - dsb@jbsba.com

Previous Page | Top