Houston District Small Business Person of the Year:

Sarah Lieberman – Dandelion Cafe

Sarah Lieberman founded Dandelion Cafe in 2016. With a background and lifelong passion for coffee and hospitality, she brings experience in industrial and product design, seven years in the coffee industry, and a deep understanding of guest experience and hospitality, all of which have shaped the way she’s built Dandelion Cafe.

Lieberman has received several types of SBA assistance to help the growth of her business. In 2015, Lieberman met weekly with SCORE Houston to receive small business mentorship prior to opening Dandelion Cafe in August 2016. During the COVID pandemic, Dandelion Cafe was able to receive a Paycheck Protection Loan and a COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan to help with operations. Furthermore, in the Spring of 2021, Lieberman participated in the SBA Emerging Leaders entrepreneur training program. When Hurricane Beryl hit Houston, Lieberman was able to continue operations with the assistance of an Economic Injury Disaster Loan. In 2024, to grow the business, Lieberman received a 7(a) loan through Agility Bank for expansion purposes.

Sarah was raised in the restaurant business and learned early that the industry experienced significant swings in revenue - even in the best of times. She took this to heart, and when she began Dandelion Cafe, she built 'survival' into the DNA of her business. Without this forethought and the SB’As help, Dandelion may not have survived. Business was adversely affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Beryl, but neither were as tough as COVID. When the order came from the local government to shut down to prevent the spread of the pandemic, Sarah continued paying her staff thanks to her emergency funds. While others sat idle during shutdown, Sarah redesigned her kitchen to be more efficient, changed ordering and inventory systems to minimize shrinkage and spoilage, added prepackaged items that the restaurant made in-house and introduced an online ordering platform for to-go and curbside orders. Consequently, Dandelion Cafe withstood COVID (and Harvey and Beryl) and more, and each time it emerged stronger, more stable and able to grow!

Dandelion Cafe has maintained consistent growth and financial stability since its founding. As customer demand has increased, the business has continued to strengthen its operations, expand its footprint, and invest in the team. In 2022, the business operated a single location, supported by 26 employees. In 2023, financial performance improved significantly following increased brand visibility after winning the Good Morning America “United States of Breakfast” Houston competition. Total sales increased and employee count grew to support higher demand and operational needs. In 2024, the business entered a major expansion phase with the opening of a second location at Rice University and a third location at the Heights Clocktower in Houston. As a result, total sales increased substantially with the number of employees increasing to 62 to support multi-location operations.

Due to their continued success, Dandelion Cafe is the recipient of the 2026 Houston District Small Business Person of the Year award.

Houston District Small Business Manufacturer of the Year:

Dr. Beata Lerman – Sinless Treats Chocolate

Sinless Treats Chocolate is a Houston-based, woman-owned, clean-label chocolate manufacturing company founded by scientist and cancer survivor Dr. Beata Lerman. The business was born out of significant personal and professional challenges. In 2018, Dr. Lerman faced her own cancer diagnosis, which transformed her understanding of health, nutrition, and the emotional role food plays during illness. As she worked toward recovery, she recognized a major gap in the market—limited options for indulgent foods that support health, particularly for individuals managing chronic conditions such as diabetes. Determined to create a better solution, she stepped away from academic medicine in 2020 to launch Sinless Treats Chocolate, developing sugar-free, antioxidant-rich chocolate rooted in both science and flavor.

Starting in a 200-square-foot cloud kitchen, Dr. Lerman faced the challenges common to early-stage manufacturers, including limited production capacity, scaling constraints, and the complexity of building a food manufacturing operation from the ground up. She sourced clean, ethical cacao globally and worked to create products that balanced indulgence with wellness all while growing the business with limited resources.

Sinless Treats benefited greatly from SBA-supported programs. Through SCORE Houston, Dr. Lerman worked closely with mentors who provided critical guidance in business strategy and growth. She also completed courses through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and participated in programming with the Women’s Business Center (WBC). The mentorship, training, and network gained through these SBA resource partners played a key role in strengthening operations and positioning the business for expansion.

With this support, Sinless Treats Chocolate has grown into a state-of-the-art, Health Department-certified, FDA-inspected chocolate manufacturing operation. The company now operates from a 1,400-square-foot facility designed for both artisan precision and industrial efficiency. In 2023, the business added a dedicated warehouse for roasting and winnowing cacao, enabling fully integrated bean-to-bar production. Strategic investments in automation and in-house processes have increased production capacity, reduced variability, and maintained product integrity. In 2024, Sinless Treats Café opened, providing customers with a space to experience artisan chocolate and learn about clean eating. The company is also finalizing plans for a second café location inside the Westin at Memorial City Mall, reflecting continued growth and market demand.

Today, Sinless Treats Chocolate serves customers across the Greater Houston area and beyond, redefining chocolate as both an indulgent and health-supportive product while maintaining a commitment to quality, innovation, and community impact.

Due to their continued success, Sinless Treats Chocolate is the recipient of the 2026 Houston District Small Business Manufacturer of the Year award. 

Houston District Woman Owned Small Business of the Year:

Heather Lambert – Clearhope Counseling & Wellness Center

Heather Lambert is a certified educator and licensed professional counselor who transformed her compassion into action. After 17 years in public education, she could no longer ignore the growing mental health crisis affecting students and families. In 2018, she founded Clearhope Counseling & Wellness Center in a small storage closet at her local church, driven by a powerful mission to remove barriers to high-quality mental health care.

With no formal business background but unwavering determination, Heather grew Clearhope from a one-woman practice into a thriving organization of more than 40 professionals serving clients across 38 clinical offices. What began with 1,206 appointments in 2018 has expanded to more than 237,000 sessions to date, reflecting Clearhope’s rapidly growing impact. Within its first year, the organization earned a SCORE Houston Entrepreneurial Success Award and secured a multi-million-dollar school district contract to deliver on-campus mental health services directly to students. Since opening in Pasadena, Texas, Clearhope has expanded to Sugar Land (2019), Humble (2022), Tomball (2022), and Beaumont (2024), and now provides services across six major school districts: Fort Bend ISD, Galena Park ISD, Goose Creek CISD, Lamar CISD, Tomball ISD, and La Porte ISD. The organization has demonstrated consistent year-over-year financial growth and remains profitable while continuing to scale to meet community needs.

Heather Lambert’s journey with SCORE and the SBA began in late 2017, when she sought guidance to turn her vision for accessible mental health care into a sustainable business. Through SCORE mentoring, she was encouraged to establish a for-profit professional corporation, leading to the founding of Clearhope Counseling & Wellness Center in May 2018. SCORE mentors provided critical strategic and legal guidance at every stage of growth, from securing larger office space and hiring staff to reviewing leases and navigating complex school district contracts. This mentorship equipped Heather with the strong business foundation needed to lead with confidence and purpose.

In 2020, Clearhope received an SBA loan through COVID-19 relief efforts, providing critical support that enabled a rapid transition to tele-mental health services. This ensured uninterrupted care for students, families, and communities when schools shifted online. Despite pandemic-related staffing challenges, Heather’s leadership—combined with SBA support—allowed Clearhope to retain key team members and continue expanding its reach. Through SCORE mentorship and SBA assistance, Clearhope not only navigated the pandemic—it thrived, delivering compassionate, professional mental health services to thousands across Texas.

Due to their continued success, Clearhope Counseling & Wellness Center is the recipient of the 2026 Houston District Woman Owned Small Business of the Year award.

Houston District Family Owned Small Business of the Year:

Marie and Justin Bock – Ryan’s Smokehouse

Marie and Justin Bock are the owners of Ryan’s Smokehouse, a quick-service restaurant, serving BBQ smoked meats with traditional sides and desserts in Webster, Texas. When Marie Bock’s aunt was looking to retire after 24 years of putting her heart into her restaurant, it was a perfect fit for Marie and Justin Bock. Between Marie’s yearning to keep the business in the family and Justin’s 25 years of restaurant experience – they made the BIG move to Houston from South Dakota!

To prepare for small business ownership, Justin worked with Marie’s aunt for approximately one year prior to purchasing Ryan’s Smokehouse in order to understand the full scale of the restaurant and its recipes. Overall, this was an essential component to pass down the family tradition.

Additionally, Marie and Justin received assistance from the San Jacinto College Small Business Development Center, working with Business Advisor Rob Carlson. Mr. Carlson worked with the couple on the transition of taking over the restaurant by providing small business resources and guidance for all facets of becoming new business owners. Over the past 3 years, Ryan’s Smokehouse has steadily increased sales by 15-20% annually, also increasing their employee count from one to seven employees. Mr. Carlson is currently helping with additional finance options for expansion of a second location.

Marie and Justin Bock attribute the growth  of their business to a strategic focus of being more involved in their community – from Epicurean events (Webster Park 4th of July, Taste of Space, Southbelt Evening of Cuisine, and Bites of the Bay) to the Ketjen Family Fishing Tournament, they love their community and are very proud to be able to contribute. Ryan’s Smokehouse was also included in the “America’s Best Restaurants” episode airing in April 2025. Overall, a true reflection of the legacy started by Marie’s aunt and continuing with the Bock’s.

Keeping the restaurant in the family has been important to the Bock’s. With their son already working full-time at the restaurant and being trained to run the business in the future, this is a family heritage they intend to pass along to their children – and many generations to come. Due to their continued success, Ryan’s Smokehouse is the recipient of the 2026 Houston District Family Owned Small Business of the Year award. 

Houston District Small Business Community Partner of the Year:

Houston City College – Entrepreneurial Initiatives

Founded in 2008, Houston City College’s Entrepreneurial Initiatives was implemented with a grant from the presiding Chancellor to implement a Center for Entrepreneurship. The Center’s goal was to develop programming to foster business growth during a challenging Houston economy. Since then, the division has flourished into four Centers for Entrepreneurship spanning across the district and serving over 14,000 small businesses in the Southeast, Northwest, Southwest, and Central areas of Houston. HCC's Entrepreneurial Initiatives provides business training to startups and existing businesses at no cost.

HCC’s reach expands beyond the Houston market since programming is offered virtually. HCC Entrepreneurial Initiatives offers ten (10) signature programs focused on providing small businesses with practical skills training. The signature programs are practical, relevant, and immediately applicable; designed by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program has graduated 1,164 small businesses.

Through its strategic alliances with over 50 local organizations including the Small Business Administration Houston District Office, the Texas Gulf Coast Small Business Development Center, SCORE Houston, and local chambers of commerce, the division collaborates in offering relevant programs as well as expert business advising, mentoring, and accessing capital.

Embracing an entrepreneurial mindset, HCC’s Entrepreneurial Initiatives continues to identify new strategic collaborations and opportunities for growth. Due to their continued success, Houton City College Entrepreneurial Initiatives is the recipient of the 2026 Houston District Small Business Community Partner of the Year award.