  Pahujah is among SBA's 'Women in Business Award' winnersKamini Pahujah, vice president at Alloy Polymers in Richmond, Virginia, was among 15 of the nation’s top women entrepreneurs who were recognized for their business success at a special breakfast event during ‘SBA Expo 2004: Celebrating National Small Business Week,’ that was held in Orlando, Florida, from May 19-21. SBA Deputy Administrator Melanie R. Sabelhaus, Lt. Governor Toni Jennings (R-FL), and other prominent national speakers honored the women who have launched successful ventures and achieved outstanding growth. “SBA is proud to recognize the tremendous contributions women entrepreneurs have made to our nation,” Sabelhaus said. “They are the economic powerhouse of the 21 st century. What they have accomplished is absolutely amazing, and their dedication, drive and commitment is the reason that women-owned businesses are growing strong.” With the backing of the SBA, Kamini and her husband Subhash, who is President and CEO of Alloy Polymers, bought over the company in 1982 with a loan of $500,000. Today, the company has annual sales of $25 million. As a vice president for finance, Kamini helps secure the best financing for her company, release said. The 15 honorees represented the varying areas of the country and all received help from the SBA. They represented the changing face of entrepreneurship and run the gamut from the air charter company to an ice tube market. The number of women-owned businesses continues to grow at twice the rate of all U.S. businesses. Women are now owners of 10.6 million businesses in the country, generate $3.6 trillion in sales, and account for 55 percent of all new businesses, a release said. —News India-Times (July 2004) |