The document summarizes an awards ceremony hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and SCORE to recognize outstanding small businesses and supporters in Massachusetts. It provides details about the 2015 Small Business Person of the Year award winner, Todd Snopkowski of Snapchef, highlighting how he grew his business with assistance from SBA programs. It also lists other award winners, including Biosurfaces for Microenterprise Business of the Year. Introductions are provided for government officials in attendance like the SBA New England Regional Administrator and Massachusetts District Director.
2. The U.S. Small Business Administra on (SBA) 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 compe ve enterprise
and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our na on.
We recognize that small business is cri cal 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 bo om line mission remains the same. The SBA helps
Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field
offices and partnerships with public and private organiza ons, SBA delivers its
services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands
and Guam.
SCORE is a nonprofit associa on dedicated to helping small businesses get off the
ground, grow and achieve their goals through educa on and mentorship. We
have been doing this for over fi y years.
Because our work is supported by the U.S. Small Business Administra on (SBA),
and thanks to our network of 11,000+ volunteers, we are able to deliver our
services at no charge or at very low cost.
2015 MASSACHUSETTS
Small Business Person of the Year
TODD SNOPKOWSKI, PRESIDENT
SNAPCHEF
“Todd Snopkowski and Snapchef exemplify perfectly what this very significant SBA
award is intended to recognize, the business is not only rapidly growing and crea ng
a significant number of jobs, but Todd has also touched the lives of so many over the
history of the business due to his passion for the business and the community.”
‐Robert H. Nelson
SBA Massachuse s District Director
“I am thrilled to be honored as
the ‘SBA Small Business Person
of the Year’ and am so grateful
for the help I’ve had from them
along the way. The SBA has
been an invaluable resource
for me, especially during our
growth spurt these last few
years; When your company
expands at such a rapid pace,
it’s exci ng, but if you don’t
make the right decisions, you
can risk losing what you’ve
worked so hard to create. I’ve
got a great team, and a lot of
incredible mentors, and I
intend to pay forward what
I’ve learned to other small
business owners to help them
realize their full poten al.”
3. industry when he carved a niche market for Snapchef to become the region’s
leader in culinary training and staffing. Today there are over 250 Snapchef
employees who service ins tu onal and corporate food service clients such as
Sodexo, Compass, Unidine, Nexdine, Café Services and Harvard University at over
200 loca ons spread out over 4 states.
Like many small businesses experiencing explosive growth in their early years,
Snapchef faced challenges in managing the growth, cash flow and its ability to
con nue smooth business opera ons during this cri cal me. This was the
turning point for Snopkowski that led him to seek out help from the SBA.
He u lized free SBA counseling services at the Massachuse s Small Business
Development Center (MSBDC) at Clark University, and also at UMass Boston, to
explore ways to address the problems Snapchef was facing in order to con nue
growing the business.
As a result, Snopkowski was able to expand Snapchef from a 300 square foot
office – to a facility of over 7000 square feet in South Boston ‐‐ with the help from
supporters that included MSBDC and the City of Boston. In 2013, Snapchef added
a new culinary training center in South Boston, which Todd Snopkowski now
owns. Help from Radius Bank and Granite State Economic Development
Corpora on was secured to u lize the SBA 504 program that allowed him to
purchase the property, and he also u lized the SBA 7A and SBA Express
guaranteed loan programs to consolidate debt, and to support receivables
through a tradi onal bank line of credit and posi on his business for further
growth.
In 2002, Snopkowski saw an opportunity to solve a problem in the food service
Governor Charlie Baker
Charlie Baker was inaugurated on January 8th
, 2015 as the
72nd
Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachuse s.
Elected in November of 2014 on a pla orm of making
Massachuse s great for everyone, Governor Baker’s arrival
in the Corner Office con nues a long, successful career in
both the private sector and public service where he has
worked hard to put the people of Massachuse s first.
Governor Baker is commi ed to making Massachuse s a
truly great place to live, work, start a business and raise a
family. As Governor, he has pledged to work toward a
growing economy with family‐sustaining jobs; ensure that
schools across the Commonwealth provide opportunity for
every child regardless of zip code; and make Beacon Hill a
true partner with our local governments to create safer and
thriving communi es across Massachuse s.
SBA Officials
Seth A. Goodall was
appointed by President
Obama to serve as SBA’s
New England Regional
Administrator in July
2013.
In this posi on,
Mr. Goodall oversees
SBA’s six New England
district offices and is
responsible for the
delivery of the
agency’s financial,
technical assistance
and government
contrac ng ac vi es
in the region.
Bob Nelson was
named District
Director for the
Massachuse s
office in November
2007.
In this posi on,
Mr. Nelson is
responsible for
the effec ve
delivery of SBA’s
financial and
business
development
programs in the
state.
WELCOME
Seth Goodall
SBA New England
Regional Administrator
Robert H. Nelson
SBA Massachuse s
District Director
4. ABOUT
has issued a proclama on announcing Na onal Small Business
Week, which recognizes the cri cal contribu ons of America’s
entrepreneurs and small business owners.
More than half of Americans either own or work for a small
business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs
in the U.S. each year.
As part of Na onal Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business
Administra on takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of
outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others
from all 50 states and U.S. territories.
Every day, they’re working to grow small businesses, create 21st
century jobs, drive innova on, and increase America’s global
compe veness.
Every year since 1963, the President of the United States
2015 MASSACHUSETTS
District Director Award
CAPE & PLYMOUTH BUSINESS MAGAZINE
business publica on serving Cape Cod,
the Islands, Plymouth County and the
South Shore in Massachuse s. The
company not only publishes a monthly
business magazine, but also a quarterly
baby‐boomer magazine called Health &
Wealth. Addi onally, the company
publishes the area’s only business
specific e‐newsle er, every Tuesday and
Thursday. Cape & Plymouth Business
hosts numerous networking and
educa onal events throughout the Cape,
Plymouth and South Shore regions.
To be successful, you have to have your
heart in your business, and your business
in your heart. – Thomas Watson, Sr.
The SBA District Director Award is presented annually to a business, individual or
en ty that stands out amongst the many resources available for its support of the
small business community and SBA programs in general.
The Cape and Plymouth Business Magazine has been an extremely strong media
partner of the SBA for years, and a reliable source of educa onal content and
business informa on for the region’s small business community.
Cape & Plymouth Business is a monthly
5. 2015 NEW ENGLAND & MASSACHUSETTS
MICROENTERPRISE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
BIOSURFACES
response to the development of several promising new technologies. Ma hew began
his research career in the vascular surgery research laboratory at the Beth Israel
Deaconess Medical Center in Boston for over 15 years where he served as assistant
director and helped to establish a small business research and development company
called BioMod Surfaces.
Since 2013, BioSurfaces has u lized free counseling services from Massachuse s Small
Business Development Center (MSBDC) at Clark University, who assisted them in
strategic planning, projec ons for obtaining bank financing; and prepara on of a
business plan and pitch deck for the company’s spin‐off of NuVascular Technologies.
Addi onally, BioSurfaces has received over $6.6 million in small business grants and
contracts through the SBIR and STTR programs awarded by government agencies
including: the Na onal Ins tute of Health and Na onal Science Founda on.
In 2003, Ma hew and Tina Phaneuf teamed together to form BioSurfaces, Inc. in
2015 SMALL BUSINESS WEEK AWARD WINNERS
Jeffrey Butland Family‐Owned
Small Business of the Year:
Elaine J. Boone
PTS Truck‐Trailer‐Construc on
Equipment Supply
Minority‐Owned
Small Business of the Year:
Michael Chege & Raphael Bibiu
Ace Medical Services, Inc.
Woman‐Owned
Small Business of the Year:
Debra Heims
H&S Environmental, Inc.
Microenterprise Business of the Year:
Ma hew &Tina Phaneuf
BioSurfaces, Inc.
Region 1 Prime Contractor of the Year:
Arthur Mabbe , President
Mabbe & Associates, Inc.
Massachuse s & New England SBA
Small Business Exporter of the Year:
Lester Hensley & Bashar Moussallieh
EMSEAL Joint Systems Ltd.
Massachuse s & New England SBA
Financial Services Champion:
Mary Katherine Mansfield
Bay Colony Development Corpora on
Massachuse s & New England SBA
Small Business Development Center
Excellence and Innova on Award:
Keith Girouard, Regional Director
Massachuse s Small Business
Development Center
Berkshire Regional Office
Massachuse s & New England SBA
8(a) Graduate of the Year:
Hector Sanchez
P&S Construc on, Inc.
Massachuse s SBA
District Director Award:
Robert J. Viamari, CEO/Publisher
Cape & Plymouth Business Magazine
Small Business Person of the Year:
Todd Snopkowski, President
Snapchef
6. CEO of the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce,
a regional chamber serving over 650 businesses
in twenty communi es the greater MetroWest
and 495 region.
In addi on, she serves on the Board of
Directors the MetroWest/495 Partnership
where she co‐leads the MetroWest and 495
Alliance for Regional Economic Development.
Ms. Biocchi also serves as a member of the
Na ck Soldier Systems Science and Technology
Board, The MetroWest Economic Research
Center Advisory Board and is a member of the
Massachuse s Crea ve Economy Council.
She was the 2013 recipient of the WBJ’s
Outstanding Woman in Business Award and is
an advisory board member of the Ins tute for
Women’s Leadership at Becker College.
EMCEE
Bonnie Biocchi
Small Business isn’t for the faint
of heart. It’s for the brave, the
patient and the persistent.
It’s for the overcomer.
– Unknown
Bonnie Biocchi serves as the President and
2015 MASSACHUSETTS
WOMAN– OWNED SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
H&S ENVIRONMENTAL
remedia on services over a decade ago from
the basement of her house, receiving her first
contract from a petroleum company. As a
result of her leadership and perseverance, H&S
has grown to 42 employees since their
incep on in 2003. Debi is the sole owner of H&S
and learned to leverage the SBA programs
offered to disadvantaged, woman‐owned
businesses. H&S joined SBA’s 8(a) Business
Development Program and started out as a
subcontractor to large firms needing to fulfill
socio‐economic prime contrac ng goals –
receiving guidance from the Contrac ng team at
the SBA Massachuse s District Office. As a
result, Debi has developed a twelve‐year history
for H&S, tou ng a proven track record for:
financial stability, profitable growth, increased
employment, and an impeccable safety record.
H&S has executed many innova ve technologies, including: the design and
construc on of Low Impact Development (LID) technologies and cos ng data for the
United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Bal more District; pilot studies for
the treatment of explosive‐contaminated soils for the USACE Omaha District; and
innova ve treatment technologies at various loca ons for the US Navy. Because of
its posi ve track record, H&S con nues to grow its client base and expand
na onwide, which includes: New England, Philadelphia, Bal more, Savannah and
Omaha districts; the US Navy; the US Air Force; NASA; the US Coast Guard; the
Department of Homeland Security; HUD; the EPA; and the Massachuse s Air Na onal
Guard.
Debi Heims started H&S environmental
7. 2015 NEW ENGLAND & MASSACHUSETTS
JEFFREY BUTLAND FAMILY‐OWNED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
PTS TRUCK‐TRAILER‐CONSTRUCTION
EQUIPMENT SUPPLY
when the founder passed in 2010. At that
me, PTS was in a difficult state of transi on;
the economy was in a downturn; and the
company faced turbulent financial challenges.
Elaine led the family business out of this
difficult period and helped increase sales
substan ally over the five years under her
team effort leadership. PTS has been in
business for over 50 years and is expected to
reach record sales in 2015.
For Elaine Boone, she wanted this award
dedicated to her mother‐in‐law, Eleanor
Robbins Boone. “At her eulogy, it read ‘A Pio‐
neer Very Few Hardly Knew’; Eleanor
co‐founded Boone Trailer in 1946 and invaded
the man’s world of the trucking business in
1964 by founding PTS‐ Palmer Trailer Sales
Company, Inc. It’s truly an honor to carry on
her legacy,” says Elaine. “
The Family‐Owned Business of the Year award is presented annually to a family‐owned
business with at least a 15‐year track record that has passed from one genera on to
another. This award is very special here in New England as it is named a er former
New England Regional Administrator Jeffrey Butland who was a reless champion for
family‐owned businesses.
Dan and Elaine Boone took over the business
SCHEDULE
11:00 am ‐ 12:00 pm Registra on and Networking
12:00 pm ‐ 12:10 pm Pledge of Allegiance
Welcoming Remarks
Robert H. Nelson, District Director, SBA
Seth Goodall, Regional Administrator, SBA
12:10 pm ‐ 12:20pm Featured Remarks
Massachuse s Governor Charlie Baker
12:20 pm ‐ 12:30 pm Remarks from SCORE and Corporate Supporters
SCORE, Paul Waldeck, Assistant District Director
Eastern Bank, Bob Rivers, President and COO
Middlesex Savings Bank, Mike McAuliffe
Chief Commercial Banking Officer
Lunch Served
12:45 pm ‐ 12:55 pm SCORE & Corporate Supporter (con nued)
UniBank, Christopher Watson ‐ Senior Vice‐President
Vistaprint, Bridget O'Brien ‐ Vice‐President, Marke ng
12:55 pm ‐ 1:00 pm Emcee Introduc on
Bonnie Biocchi, President and CEO, MetroWest Chamber
1:00 pm ‐ 1:55 pm Awards Presenta on
1:55 pm ‐ 2:00 pm Closing Remarks
Robert H. Nelson, SBA Massachuse s District Director
2:00 pm Program Concludes
8. 2015 MASSACHUSETTS & NEW ENGLAND
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION AWARD
BERKSHIRE REGIONAL OFFICE
the amazing part, the center achieved this with the equivalent of only one business
advisor. Along with Regional Director Keith Girouard, Nancy Shulman is the only other
part me advisor currently serving the region.
During this past fiscal year, the center provided 909 hours of business advising to 199
client firms; with 60 long term cases, 71 extended engagement cases and 23 business
starts. The center was also successful in securing $5,512,111 in financing for 25 clients,
crea ng 105 jobs and retaining 173 jobs. These outcomes are outstanding considering
the size of the team!
The center has built a strong reputa on by leveraging the ac ve community and
deploying a “guerilla partnering” approach to outreach so that the public learns about
the MSBDC through strong ins tu onal partnerships. During the year, the center
partnered with several community stakeholders to raise awareness and execute specific
ini a ves that benefit the small business community. Some of the collabora ve
partners this year include: Berkshire County Chamber of Commerce, Central Berkshire
Chamber, North Adams High School, Berkshire Community College, Mass MoCA, the
Schumacher Center for a New Economics, Berkshares Inc., Berkshire Community
College, and various banking ins tu ons.
The Berkshire Regional Office surpassed deliverable goals in every category this year,
2015 MASSACHUSETTS
MINORITY‐OWNED SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
ACE MEDICAL SERVICES
Both immigrated to the United States from Kenya with all their belongings in one
suitcase. They worked as CNAs (cer fied nursing assistant) in the health care
industry while going back to college to improve themselves and gain experience. In
2007, they decided to start their own Home Health Care Company to do God’s work
– providing medical and home services to the elderly, sick and underserved minority
groups.
Star ng out in a small one room office at the Mar n Luther King Empowerment
Center in Worcester, they developed their vision and mission for the company –
o en wrestling with doubt, thinking about giving up and declaring bankruptcy. In
July of 2009, the team started u lizing free counseling services from
Massachuse s Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) at Clark University,
who assisted them in pu ng together and implemen ng a sound business plan to
generate growth. Later that year a er repeatedly being turned down by mul ple
banks, help in the form of a $150,000 SBA 7A loan was approved by Commerce
Bank. This infusion of capital helped the young startup company persevere through
a phase when total revenue was approximately $500,000 with a net
income of $53,000. Today, Ace Medical Services is a $3.6 million company that
employs 120 people in the area.
Michael Chege and Raphael Bibiu are perfect examples of the American Dream.
9. 2015 NEW ENGLAND & MASSACHUSETTS
SMALL BUSINESS EXPORTER OF THE YEAR AWARD
EMSEAL JOINT SYSTEMS LTD
Since 2004, EMSEAL has been supported by the free business advisory services of the
Massachuse s Export Center ‐ part of the Massachuse s Small Business Development
Center network sponsored by the University of Massachuse s Amherst, Isenberg School
of Management.
As a result of this rela onship, EMSEAL was able to iden fy and evaluate interna onal
distributors in several foreign markets. Today EMSEAL has significantly increased its
geographic footprint by expanding into some very challenging emerging markets,
including: Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, Jordan, Indonesia, India, and others.
In 2014, EMSEAL had 92 employees and sales of $25 million.
Exports accounted for about 10‐12 percent of the company’s revenue in 2014 and
have grown 25‐30 percent over the last four years.
As a result of strong export performance, the company recently created 8 new
export jobs, including 2 export sales manager posi ons, 1 logis cs coordinator
posi on and 5 manufacturing posi ons.
EMSEAL has about 60 interna onal distributors in almost 50 countries worldwide
and is poised for a much stronger increase in export sales over the next several
years.
expansion joints and sealants
to allow large buildings, such as:
stadiums, office buildings,
hospitals, malls, and airports – to
adjust to ecological shi s without
being damaged, improve public
safety condi ons and enable
local sustainability through energy
conserva on. Mr. Lester Hensley,
is CEO and Mr. Bashar Moussallieh
is Interna onal Project Manager
for the business.
EMSEAL manufactures innova ve
2015 MASSACHUSETTS & NEW ENGLAND
FINANCIAL SERVICES CHAMPION OF THE YEAR
MARY KATHERINE MANSFIELD
In 1998, Mary became involved with the Na onal Associa on for Development
Companies (NADCO), a trade associa on of SBA Cer fied Development Companies
and other lenders delivering SBA loans and financing for small businesses. In 2010,
Mary was elected Vice Chair of Regulatory Affairs ‐ working closely with
government officials to assist CDCs across the country with eligibility issues, closing
concerns and governance regula ons. Mary also served on the 504 Reinvigora on
Project, traveling to Washington, DC on an annual basis to advocate for the 504
program ‐ providing crucial data and jus fica on to CDC oversight and governance
regulators to ensure program funding.
As Senior Vice President now, Mary manages the Bay Colony opera ons and
personally oversees the Closing and Servicing Departments, focusing on cul va ng
a team environment. “We didn’t get to be one of the top CDCs because of
anything I did – we got to this posi on because we have a dedicated staff and we
all work together with the common goal of promo ng economic development in
New England.”, says Mansfield.
star ng out as Opera ons Manager overseeing
the Servicing Department. At that me, Bay
Colony had 57 loans in its por olio and she was
the third employee added to the staff. Today,
Bay Colony has grown to 540 ac ve loans for a
por olio balance over $219 million, with a team
of 13 employees in Massachuse s and one in
Vermont.
Mary joined Bay Colony Development in 1985,
10. 2015 MASSACHUSETTS & NEW ENGLAND
Region 1 Prime Contractor of the Year
MABBETT & ASSOCIATES
During his military service, he was responsible for environmental, health and safety
programs at the Tripler Medical Center in Hawaii. Mr. Mabbe was also responsible for
the development and implementa on of the U.S. Army, Hawaii’s environmental program
– so it was only natural that he leverage the knowledge and experience gained to form
Mabbe & Associates.
Established in 1980, Mabbe & Associates brings over 35 years of experience providing
environmental consul ng and engineering services, an essen al step to maintaining a
healthy and natural environment for breaking ground on new construc on and land use.
As a successful prime contractor, a strong and effec ve execu ve management team has
been cri cal to developing a growing and sustainable prac ce for a growing business.
The firm is proud that Mabbe ’s execu ve team has worked together for over 15 years!
Another criteria of an effec ve prime contractor for the federal government has been
the ability to stay in compliance with government regula ons. Mabbe supports clients
in nego a ng successfully with regulatory agencies by developing consensus for prac cal
strategies and conflict management. Results have not only reduced costs, but expedited
coordina on among mul ple regulators; state environmental agencies, EPA, and other
local and federal agencies.
Founder of Mabbe & Associates, Inc. and
served our country meritoriously for over a
decade, before star ng out on his own as a
small business owner. A veteran of the U.S.
Army as a Major, Environmental Science
Officer comple ng six years ac ve duty and
13 years in the U.S. Army Reserve – Mr.
Mabbe s ll remains ac vely commi ed to
the veteran community as the current
President of the Veterans Business Council,
Disabled Veterans of America and
American Legion.
Arthur N. Mabbe is the President and
2015 MASSACHUSETTS & NEW ENGLAND
8(A) GRADUATE OF THE YEAR
P & S CONSTRUCTION
projects for the Department of Labor, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
United States Coast Guard, Department of Navy, General Service Administra on and
the Department of Veterans Affairs establishing a solid record of performance
excellence. P&S Construc on’s por olio includes federal projects in the
educa onal, office, medical and industrial facili es with project values up to $13
million.
P&S Construc on honors the core principles of quality, safety, innova on and
integrity. This simple but successful philosophy has grown their por olio to include
over 150 contracts, in 12 states and a client list of more than 10 agencies. As a small
business federal contractor, P&S Construc on has spent the past decade mastering
the protocols, prac ces and unique work environments of countless federal clients.
Based in Chelmsford, Massachuse s ‐ their small business roots provide clients a
customer‐centered focus from project award to ribbon cu ng, while the dynamic
in‐house design team offers clients crea ve, resourceful and powerful designs.
Mr. Hector Sanchez is the President of P&S Construc on, and is now expanding
with an office in Guam.
Since incorpora ng in January of 2001, P&S Construc on has successfully completed
