I am honored to recognize these exceptional individuals for their tireless efforts on behalf of America's small-business community.
Todd McCracken, President, NSBA

The National Small Business Association (NSBA) today announced the finalists for the 2009 Lewis Shattuck Small Business Advocate of the Year Award. The award winner will be announced during NSBA's Annual Advocate of the Year Award Luncheon on Tuesday, June 9 at 12:00 p.m., which is the kick-off event for the NSBA Washington Presentation on June 9 and 10.

"After evaluating a very impressive pool of candidates, I am honored to recognize these exceptional individuals for their tireless efforts on behalf of America's small-business community," stated NSBA President Todd McCracken. "We need them now more than ever."

2009 Finalists

Michael Bowlds, president of Mountaintop Marketing Group, LLC, has been an outspoken advocate for small and minority business contracting concerns. He currently serves on the board of the Montgomery County (Md.) Chamber of Commerce and the National Business League of Greater Washington, and was a founding member of the Government Contracting Network (GovConNet) initiative. Bowlds created the "Peak Series CIO Breakfast," a monthly forum to connect small-business technology vendors with federal chief information officers and contracting officials. He currently serves as board chairman for the National Capital Area Minority Business Opportunity Center.

Michael Mitternight, president of Metairie, La.-based Factory Service Agency, Inc., specializing in commercial air conditioning service and construction, can just as often be found in Baton Rouge or Washington, D.C. testifying on behalf of Louisiana small business as he can in his office. In addition to his local and federal advocacy, Mitternight has been a valuable resource for myriad reporters and has gotten the important stories about small business during the economic downturn front-and-center. He serves on the NSBA board and was named chairman in 2006 of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. Mitternight was integral to getting New Orleans businesses back and running following Hurricane Katrina.

Thomas C. Pitrone, CFP, has run The Integrity Group for the last 25 years providing financial services to other small businesses. A former board member and Tax Committee Chair of NSBA, Pitrone has a passion for small business that drives his extensive advocacy on the local, state and national level. Taking on myriad leadership roles with the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) in Cleveland, Pitrone was twice named COSE's small business advocate of the year. Most recently, his activism in the 2008 Healthy Families Act ballot initiative in Ohio led to critical fundraising and eventually defeat of a ballot initiative that would have been a significant burden to Ohio's small businesses.

Susan Ratliff, president of Phoenix-based Exhibit Experts, Inc., has been a small-business owner since 1988, during which time she's taken an active role as a small-business cheerleader, supporter, encourager, teacher and promoter. A true believer in the power of entrepreneurship, Ratliff created the first Women Entrepreneurs' Small Business Boot Camp which just celebrated its fifth anniversary, and has taken her inspirational message to the women's prison in Perryville, Arizona. Ratliff has been involved with NSBA, the Entrepreneurial Mothers Association, the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Chambers of Commerce, the National Speakers Association, NAWBO and the Arizona Small Business Association, to name a few.

Robert C. Smith, president and CEO of Spero-Smith Investment Advisers, Inc. in Beachwood, Ohio, has been active working for small-business concerns on the local, state and national level through various leadership roles with NSBA, COSE and the Cleveland Growth Association (now the Greater Cleveland Partnership). Smith has constantly fought to increase the influence of small business—something he's been able to do through several city and state-wide governmental entities for which he was appointed to their boards by the Mayor of Cleveland and two Ohio Governors. Working hard for his seat at the table, Smith has effectively focused on the common good of all those at the table—including small business.

The criteria used in determining award finalists was a commitment to small business advocacy, a proven history of volunteer activism on behalf of the small-business community, and success and growth as a small-business owner. NSBA congratulates the five finalists on their outstanding work and looks forward to honoring them during the Annual Advocate of the Year Award Luncheon on Tuesday, June 9.