AMES, Iowa – America’s SBDC Iowa (SBDC) is pleased to announce the winners of its 2016 special entrepreneur awards.
Sarah Novacek, Founder, President and CEO, Legacy Logistics Freight, Inc., Mason City, is the 2016 Deb Dalziel Woman Entrepreneur Achievement Award winner. Tony Halsted, Owner, Hoover’s Hatchery Company, LLC, Rudd, is the 2016 Neal Smith Entrepreneur of the Year Award winner.
The Deb Dalziel Woman Entrepreneur Achievement Award honors an Iowa woman entrepreneur who has significantly changed or improved her life and the lives of others. The award is presented in memory of Deb Dalziel, a devoted small business advocate who was director of the Small Business Development Center at Southeastern Community College, Burlington, from 1987 until her death from cancer in 1999 at the age of 44.
Brook Boehmler, director of the North Iowa Area SBDC, Mason City, nominated Novacek for the Deb Dalziel Award because “Sarah is a great example of a true entrepreneur who saw a specific need and started a business to fulfill that need. She is a smart people person who also pays attention to the details and isn’t afraid to compete in a male-dominated industry. She deserves to be recognized for her vision, hard work, and success.”
The Neal Smith Entrepreneur of the Year Award honors an Iowa entrepreneur who has been in business a minimum of three years and has been significantly assisted by an Iowa Small Business Development Center. The award was established with a dual purpose—to honor long-time Iowa Congressman Neal Smith for his years of service to Iowa’s small businesses, and to recognize Iowa’s entrepreneurs, who are the driving force behind Iowa’s economic growth.
Boehmler also nominated Halsted for the Neal Smith Award, stating, “In four short years, Tony led the reincarnation of a fine, but stationary, regional family business into a growth company that serves a national market and partners with national players. Tony has been an exemplary example of a great SBDC client; he is coachable and action oriented. Tony delivers and he is most deserving of this recognition.”
Lisa Shimkat, State Director of America’s SBDC Iowa, agrees that Novacek and Halsted deserve these awards saying, “Having dedicated and passionate entrepreneurs like Sarah and Tony makes our job seem almost easy. We are honored to have clients who have worked diligently to move their businesses forward while still showing a strong commitment to their communities and customers. We are delighted to be able to recognize their hard work and success with these awards.”
The two SBDC special entrepreneur awards will be presented to the winners in a special ceremony in spring 2016 at the State Capitol in Des Moines.
