SBA recognizes JMark CEO, SBTDC

The Springfield branch of the U.S. Small Business Administration has chosen to recognize the economic efforts of JMark Business Solutions Inc. President and CEO Thomas Douglas and the Small Business & Technology Development Center at Missouri State University.

Person of the Year
Douglas, owner of the Springfield technology services and information technology firm, has been selected to receive the local SBA's 2013 Missouri Small Business Person of the Year award, according to a news release.

JMark, which now employs 63, has been noted as a fast-growing company, ranking most recently at No. 4,153 on the 2012 Inc. 5000, based on 2011 revenues of $6.4 million and 2008 revenues of $4.8 million, representing 31 percent growth. The list ranks the fastest-growing private companies in the country. JMark also is a finalist in Springfield Business Journal's 2013 Dynamic Dozen, which measures companies based on revenue and percentage growth year-to-year for 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Excellence and Innovation Award
The SBTDC has been marked to receive the Region 7 Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award.

The organization - which provides business services including consulting, training programs, business planning, financial analysis reports and marketing planning under Director Rayanna Anderson - this month moved to its new home at MSU's downtown Robert W. Plaster Center for Free Enterprise and Business Development.

Douglas and the SBTDC are scheduled to receive the awards during a May 6 breakfast ceremony, and will compete June 19 in St. Louis for national honors during National Small Business Week, the release said.