The West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) and Small Business Administration (SBA) WV District Office officials celebrated 2024 Small Business Week Award winners on May 1 at the Robert H. Mollohan Research Center in Fairmont, WV.
“We are proud to have four small business winners this year showcasing the incredible business owners throughout West Virginia,” said WV SBDC Director, Steve Johnson. “Each year the WV Small Business Development Center gets to help more businesses succeed and grow here in the Mountain State.
Award recipients are listed below.
National Small Business Week Small Business Person of the Year 2024
Lisa Fritsch, Peter Fritsch, Adam Leach & Chet Tobrey
President, Chief Technology Officer, VP of Operations, VP of R&D
Agile5 Technologies, Inc.
Agile5 Technologies, Inc. specializes in the design, development, testing, integration, and operations and maintenance of enterprise software systems for Government agencies. Founded in 2011, Agile5 is a certified Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and SBA-certified as a qualified Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone) small business.
WVDO Veteran Small Business Week Small Business Person
James Merrill
CEO/Owner
Hasten Services LLC
Hasten Services LLC is a veteran owned company in WV offering Quality Facility Management services, security services, investigative services and contracting services. James Merrill reached out to SBDC business coach Frank Goldsborough to get assistance in registering their business on SAMS.GOV and to get Hubzone Certified. Hasten Services has been SBA Hubzone certified and is now in a better position to compete on Federal Contracts.
WVDO Family-Owned Small Business of the Year
Jae C Lehew
Owner
S&S Fine Diamonds and Jewelry
For over 34 years, S & S Diamonds has been one of the most trusted names in jewelry in the WV region. They are a well-established jewelry store that has grown with our community from a small store to a multiple brand jewelry retailer.
They have served generations of families as their trusted jeweler for brilliant diamonds, beautiful fine jewelry, elegant watches, treasured gifts, custom made styles and expert jewelry repairs.
S & S Diamonds is committed to make every customer “feel at home” with our personalized service and our classic to cutting edge jewelry designs.
WVDO Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year
Ashley Mason
Owner
Charlotte’s Café LLC
Charlotte’s Café opened Dec. 30, 2019 in Berkeley Springs, WV. Ashley Mason, owner of Charlotte’s Cafe, was inspired by her grandmother Charlotte’s cooking skills so she learned in childhood that serving wholesome food to others is a gift of love.
The café is open six days a week and busy every day. The menu includes homemade breakfasts and desserts, chicken corn soup based on an old family recipe and a new chicken salad wrap with a pickle twist.
Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. WV SBDC, a division of the West Virginia Department of Economic Development, which helps small businesses at all stages of development by connecting owners to programs, resources and coaches.
For more information about WV SBDC services and WV SBDC coaches, visit wvsbdc.com.