SBA fetes business leaders

"I'll never forget my son (Stephen) saying, 'Mom, you're going to make it,'" said Virginia Jawidzik, the founder and president of OmegaSmart Inc. in Londonderry, that makes health food bars.

Jawidzik, who was named the Woman Business Owner of the Year, and others had kind words for the SBA, the Small Business Development Center and advisors from SCORE, the nonprofit business counseling group.

Richard Brunelle, of Northway Bank in North Conway, was named Financial Services Champion for his work on behalf of small businesses.

Richard W. Pease and Brian J. Mikol, co-owners of the Spectrum Marketing Cos. in Manchester, were named Small Business Persons of the Year.

The company has grown over the years from a small startup to an enterprise with more than $30 million in annual sales.

Other award-winners were:

-- Jeremy Hitchcock and Tom Daly, Dynamic Network Services in Manchester, Young Entrepreneurs of the Year.

-- Varney's Cleaners, Jeffrey H. Butland Family-Owned Business of the Year.

-- Leo B. Glasheen Jr., Score Counselor of the Year.

-- Bill Regan, New Hampshire Union Leader deputy managing editor for business, Small Business Journalist of the Year.

-- Gary W. Oden of the SBDC Keene office, Small Business Development Center Service Excellence and Innovation Center Award.

-- Deborah Osgood, co-founder and vice president of the Knowledge Institute in Exeter, was named Women in Business Champion, and also received a special honor from the Mary M. Dumais Memorial Fund: the Women's Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, for her work on behalf of women in business.