Celebrate our
Winners!

The Winners

 Congratulate our 2024 Award Winners

Dr. Richard John Mayer, President
Knowledge Based Systems, Inc.

National Small Business Subcontractor of the Year


Dr. John Mayer began Knowledge Based Systems, Inc. (KBSI) in 1988 in College Station, TX after earning his Ph.D in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M University. 


KBSI is a research, engineering and systems analysis, consulting and systems/software development company. KBSI has been awarded numerous research and development contracts.  Over the past 35 years, the company has developed technologies in areas such as engineering design, simulation modeling, forecasting and cyber security to name just a few.


Their ASSURANT technology fills a national defense need to bolster cyber resiliency and survivability across all weapons systems.


KBSI has worked closely with their local Small Business Development Center on many occasions.

Dr. Rogelio “Roy” Rivera Jr.,
PT, PhD, DPT, MCHES

Elation Physical Therapy 

Houston District Small Business Person of the Year 


Dr. Rogelio Rivera, Jr. is the CEO & President of Elation Physical Therapy, both a Certified Minority and LGBT Business Enterprise® with four locations in Greater Houston that specialize in sports medicine and orthopedic rehabilitation. Elation Physical Therapy’s outpatient physical therapy practices focus on providing patients with a direct path to physical rehabilitation and recovery from all kinds of orthopedic injuries, musculoskeletal disorders, and post-operative conditions. 


Because of their value to those marginalized by the healthcare industry and society at large, they are proud to offer rehabilitative services specific to the LGBTQ+ community to help mend the gap in care. His passion for the LGBTQ+ community extends beyond physical therapy as Dr. Rivera engages in community partnerships via Pride Houston and is a champion for LGBTQ+ youth and continues to demonstrate his dedication to this cause year after year. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Houston Tennis Club (HTC) and Out for Education (OFE). 


Elation Physical Therapy has received assistance from the SBA since its inception. The catalyst for Rivera to become a private practice owner and set the stage for the future was via the funding of an SBA 7(a) loan. Later, after a few years of entrepreneurship under his belt and completing the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, his BIGGEST dream became a reality when the business was able to secure an SBA 504 loan that allowed for the purchase of the property where the Elation Physical Therapy flagship location currently sits. Due to the COVID pandemic, Elation Physical Therapy once again utilized the SBA’s assistance by receiving both rounds of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and the COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).


The future for Elation Physical Therapy starts now as they are currently testing the franchise model locally and have started to target other major metropolitan areas in Texas for expansion.

Britany Vinson

Tomé Catering

Houston District Woman Business Owner of the Year


Britany Vinson is the owner and head chef of Tomé Catering which is an acronym for "The Ordinary Made Extraordinary". When Britany started Tome' in 2008, she rented a church kitchen to prepare and distribute her menu items. Fast forward a couple of years, she was able to open Tome' in a prime and growing downtown Lufkin area in a space that better accommodated her growing business. 


During the COVID pandemic, Tome' was able to also leverage the assistance of SBA COVID program such as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). Tome' had to pivot their business model in order to remain sustainable. Due to this pivot, Tomé has since opened an express location in Nacogdoches and has increased their refrigerated vending machines in local hospitals, gyms, and workplaces to provide healthy meal options to busy communities.


Britany has a zeal for preparing excellent foods and providing top-notch service for her customers - a passion inspired by her grandmother.  An aspect she is passing along through her work on the Board of Directors for Legacy Institute's LIFE Skills Program which provides opportunities and education to individuals wanting to learn more about managing a business in the food industry. Britany additionally attended courses and earned certificates from EntreBeliever, the National Restaurant Association, and is a recent graduate of the SBA T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Program.


This proven passion has allowed Tomé to be awarded "Best of Lufkin" 9 consecutive years as Best Caterer, as well as the last 4 years for "Best Low-Calorie Meal" in the Lufkin Daily News' annual community poll. Future plans for Tomé include building a new facility with offices for staff members, 2 drive thru lanes, and a larger working state-of-the-art kitchen.

Phylicia Hill

H5 Strategic Alliances

Houston District Minority Business Owner of the Year


Phylicia Hill serves as co-founder, CEO and Managing Director for H5 Strategic Alliances, a full-service IT professional consulting services company. As a co-owner, she manages the operations of the business while her partner manages the service delivery side of the business. H5 Strategic Alliances has grown from a two-man team to 7 employees and 30 resources that make up their extensive team providing services all over the states. 


H5 Strategic Alliances has received SBA assistance through various facets that have attributed to their success. During the COVID pandemic, the company received disaster assistance through the COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. Furthermore, the business has received counseling via the Small Business Development Center and SCORE Houston. H5 Strategic Alliances is also working with APEX Accelerator where they are going through the process of being SBA Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) certified and considering the 8(a) Business Development Program. H5's commitment to continuous learning is evident through its participation in prestigious programs like the HCC Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program and SBA's T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Program.


H5 Strategic Alliances LLC's financial performance over the years demonstrates a remarkable trajectory of consistent improvement, reflecting the company's strategic decisions and resilience in the dynamic service industry. In an era where the IT job landscape has shifted significantly post-pandemic, H5 has not only adapted but thrived.

Nicole York

Desert Rose Beauty & Wellness

Houston District Rural Business Owner of the Year


Nestled in the heart of Lake Jackson, TX, Desert Rose Beauty & Wellness is an oasis of tranquility, providing a diverse array of indulgent services such as rejuvenating massages, luxurious facials, full-body waxing, carefully curated take-home products and more – stemming far beyond the typical spa experience. Prior to opening the business, owner Nicole York received both training and counseling from the Brazosport Small Business Development Center. In 2019, Desert Rose sprouted its roots in a cozy room nestled within another business - quickly growing a two-month waitlist. 


Fast forward to 2022, and the bloom of growth saw Desert Rose transplant to a more expansive haven. From humble beginnings, Desert Rose evolved from a Sole Proprietorship at its inception to the refined entity of Desert Rose Esthetics, LLC, now trading under the name Desert Rose Beauty & Wellness. This expansion wasn't just a move in space; it marked a transformative shift, embodying the essence of Desert Rose's commitment to flourishing beauty and wellness.


Beyond business success, Nicole actively engages with the community through charitable donations, participating in initiatives, and supporting local events and charities. Nicole's commitment isn't confined to her salon; her journey reflects not just professional success but also a profound commitment to enhancing the well-being and beauty of both individuals and the community at large. From a receptionist to salon manager, licensed esthetician, and now a successful business owner, her journey embodies passion, resilience, and a commitment to her craft.

Samantha Snabes

re:3D

Houston District Innovation Recipient (SBIR/STTR) of the Year


As a veteran, maker, social entrepreneur & the only women CEO leading a 3D printing hardware manufacturing company (that fabricates in-house from the USA), Samantha Snabes is an Officer in the Air National Guard & the CEO for re:3D. Thanks to multiple SBIR awards, re:3D has pioneered a solution to enable Gigabot to directly 3D print from plastic waste (Gigabot X) allowing anyone, anywhere, anytime access to their own personal factory. Via two SBIRS, a Containerized "Gigalab" has also been commercialized. Since its founding in 2013, re:3D® has been committed to empowering local change-makers by developing quality, industrial printers that can be adapted in new markets. 


Their Austin, Houston and San Juan Offices are hubs for 3D printing education and community engagement. In fact, re:3D contributes thousands of hours in factory tours, workshops, mentorship, and educational opportunities to teach others about 3D printing and small business annually. During the COVID pandemic, the business was also able to prototype no-cost life-saving devices for healthcare providers, joined with our local communities to 3D print and donate face shields for hospitals, made ventilators for NASA, and created a program to provide no-cost PPE to the most at-risk businesses trying to reopen in minority areas. 


As recipients of multiple SBIR/STTRs that resulted in global commercialization of products, Samanatha would like to mentor others in the future to learn more about the process.

Dr. Sabeeta Bidasie-Singh

Port Houston Business Equity Department

Houston District Community Partner of the Year (1 of 2)


Port Houston's Business Equity Department's mission is to promote supplier diversity and inclusion by supporting qualified small, minority and woman-owned business enterprises build capacity, connect to opportunities, participate in awards and contribute to the local economy. Port Houston launched the Small Business Development (SBE) program in 2002 and later launched a Minority and Women-Owned Business (MWBE) Program in July 2021. 


Port Houston is committed to working with external stakeholders by investing money, time, and resources. In 2022, Port Houston allocated $315,000 in grants through its Community Grants Program. Since the inception of the Small Business Program in 2022, Port Houston invested over $785 million to local small businesses. Since the start of the MWBE Program in 2021, Port Houston has awarded over $85 million to local minority and/or woman-owned businesses. 


Port Houston works collaboratively with the SBA Houston District Office on business development activities and outreach events. In 2023, SBA and Port Houston signed a Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) to formalize its partnership while working to together to foster and expand small business development in the local area. 

Cristina Womack

Pasadena Chamber of Commerce


Houston District Community Partner of the Year (2 of 2)


With approximately 600 member organizations, the mission of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce is to "promote economic development and community growth to ensure the prosperity of Pasadena's businesses and citizens." In its almost century of serving the community, the Pasadena Chamber has increased its presence and sustainability in the region including more than 5,500 guests that attended chamber sponsored events and programs in 2023. 


During the COVID pandemic, the Pasadena Chamber was able to receive an SBA COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) that assisted them in not shutting its doors. During this time, they were also able to take innovative approaches to transition all their events to a virtual experience.  In fact, this is where the Pasadena Loves Local initiative was birthed – a program that awarded more than $150,000 to small businesses from the Pasadena Economic Development Corporation.


Annually the Pasadena Chamber donates to Pasadena ISD Education Foundation & raises funds at Taste of the Town, donations exceed $175,000 to date benefiting underfunded projects for PISD. The Chamber instituted a comprehensive internship program in partnership with Pasadena ISD, San Jacinto College, & the University of Houston Clear Lake and was instrumental in shaping the education institutions process for partnering with businesses to increase participation. Furthermore, in response to workforce challenges facing businesses, the chamber created the first ever city-wide job fair to help put Pasadena to work and has hosted more than 125 employers and 500 job seekers. 


By partnering with the emergency response leaders, businesses & non-profits, the Pasadena Chamber serves as the central hub to provide resources during natural disasters. In 2023, when a tornado hit the Pasadena area, the Chamber hosted bi-weekly conference calls, recruited partners & volunteered at the Disaster Response Center, coordinated major donations, communicated real time resources for food, clothing and shelter to the community & hosted training seminars during recovery. Overall, the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce has remained committed to innovative approaches to problem solving and has demonstrated this in every facet of chamber operations. 

Amy Reid
Galveston County Small Business Development Center

Houston District SBDC Excellence & Innovation Award


Designated as one of Texas’s top business assistance programs, the University of Houston Texas Gulf Coast Small Business Development Center Network has 13 centers from Lufkin to Lake Jackson that serves 32 counties in southeast Texas. Since 1984, our network has helped construct a regional ecosystem to foster the spirit, support, and success of thousands of entrepreneurs and innovators. Led by Amy Reid, the Galveston SBDC has consistently demonstrated excellence in their innovative programs and their personalized guidance have contributed to the success of numerous small businesses, leading to job creation and economic development within the region. 


Galveston SBDC has also spearheaded multiple teams such as the cybersecurity committee, the SBIR/STTR team to create an avenue for clients to obtain SBIR/STTR grants and as a Veteran, Amy Reid has led a team to provide multiple SAMs in her network, including a thriving partnership with the Veterans Chamber of Commerce.


Amy has historically run her center as a one-woman operation working with other centers collaboratively to host classes and combine resources at very successful rates. Amy has earned the ASBDC State Star Award, which is an award given to only 1 person in the Texas Gulf Coast Network each year and was also recognized by the Texas City Chamber with the Women in Leadership Award. Overall, Amy has an unwavering commitment to fostering small business growth and providing exceptional support has made a significant impact on the local entrepreneurship community.