Grand Saline Business Receives SBA Success Award!

May 10, 2019
Pictured L/R Herbert Austin, Jonathan Lee Garner Berry and US Congressman Colin Allred Pictured L/R Herbert Austin, Jonathan Lee Garner Berry and US Congressman Colin Allred

DALLAS/FORT WORTH – Herbert Austin, District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Dallas/Fort Worth District Office, presented Jonathan Lee Garner Berry, owner of Capstone Plants, dba JBerry Nursery in Grand Saline with this year’s Entrepreneurial Success Award.

JBerry is a veteran owned nursery and greenhouse company located in rural Van Zandt County. The company with the assistance of the Trinity Valley Small Business Development Center has seen an increase in net worth from $4.2 million in 2015 to $5.6 million in 2017. Revenues grew from $7.8 million to $11.5 million. JBerry employment grew as well from 86 employees in 2015 to 106 employees in 2017.

The SBA honored a total of 12 outstanding small business owners and champions of business at The Spirit of America: 2019 Salute to North Texas Small Business luncheon held on Friday, May 3rd hosted by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce.

Each winner received an award from Director Austin and was greeted by US Congressman Colin Allred at the luncheon. “This is always an exciting part of the year for SBA, the small businesses, champions and community where we honor our local entrepreneurs and advocates for their great work in business and service to the community” said Herbert Austin. “These small companies are the backbone to our economy by creating two out three net new jobs every year.

“ SBA solicited nominations for the awards last fall and winners were selected by a panel of judges” said Ahmad Goree, SBA’s Public Information Officer.

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week will be held May 5th to May 11th . Events are taking place all across the country and feature forums discussing the small business landscape, business coaching services, matchmaking events as well as networking opportunities and award ceremonies. The 2019 National Small Business Person of the Year will be announced this week in Washington, DC.

The following are a complete list of winners from D/FW district:

Small Business Person of the Year

Lillianne Garcia

President CEO

Lilly Garcia Realtors

Keller, Texas

8(a) Firm of the Year

Dagmar Vanessa Tyner

CEO

TNK Services, LLC

Harker Height, TX

Exporter of the Year

Scott Jay Walker

Owner

Walker Cellular LLC dba Walker and Walker Trading

Farmers Branch, Texas

Family Owned Business of the Year

Marci Rosato

Texas Truck A/C/ Inc.

Dallas, Texas

Entrepreneurial Success

Jonathan Lee Garner Berry

Vice President

J Berry Nursery

Grand Saline, Texas

Women Business Champion

Annie Partee Holmes

Director, Minority/Women Business Enterprise Department

Dallas Independent School District

Dallas, Texas 75231

Minority Business Champion

Russell Gregory

Director of Operations & HUB Coordinator

University of North Texas System

Denton, Texas

Veteran Small Business Champion

David Shutler

CEO

Utility Systems Solutions, Inc.

Dallas, Texas

SCORE Chapter of the Year

Fort Worth, SCORE chapter 120.

Bob Siffermann, Chair

Fort Worth, Texas

DFW Community Partners Awards: There are 2 organizations

· DFW Minority Supplier Development Council

Margo Posey President and CEO

Dallas, Texas

· US India Chamber of Commerce

Neel Gonuguntla, President

Dallas, Texas

Small Business Development Center of the Year

North Central Texas SBDC

Brad Bunt, Director

Corinth, Texas

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.