Providence caterer takes top honors in 2014 SBA small business awards

THE RHODE ISLAND OFFICE of the U.S. Small Business Administration has named the winners in its 2014 small business of the year program, including recognizing Lisa Mattiello, owner of Pranzi Catering & Events, as the Rhode Island Small Business Person of the Year.
THE RHODE ISLAND OFFICE of the U.S. Small Business Administration has named the winners in its 2014 small business of the year program, including recognizing Lisa Mattiello, owner of Pranzi Catering & Events, as the Rhode Island Small Business Person of the Year.

PROVIDENCE – Lisa Mattiello, owner of Pranzi Catering & Events, has won top honors in the state as the 2014 Rhode Island Small Business Person of the Year.
That award, along with several others to small business owners and one to Lt. Gov. Elizabeth H. Roberts for her work as a small business advocate, were announced Monday by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The awards will be presented during a June 4 “Rhode Island Salute to Small Business” awards luncheon at the Alpine Country Club in Cranston.

Mattiello will join state winners from across the country, as well as representatives from the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam, during National Small Business Week in Washington, D.C., on May 15 and 16, when she will be in the running for the national Small Business person of the year honor.

“Again this year we are pleased to honor an outstanding class of small business owners and a financial champion,” said Mark S. Hayward, director of the SBA Rhode Island District Office. “These are truly the ‘best of the best’ and are deserving of this recognition for their hard work and demonstrated success.”

Financial Services Champion of the Year is Denise DiDonato, vice president of small business lending for Freedom National Bank. The Joseph G.E. Knight Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence will be awarded by the Rhode Island SCORE chapter to Herrick & White Architectural Woodworkers in Cumberland.

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The rest of the state award winners include:

  • Miguelina Dominguez and Roberto Castellano, co-owners of RCM Cleaning LLC in Providence, as Rhode Island and New England Minority-owned Small Business of the Year
  • John H. Wood II, owner of the Green Grocer in Portsmouth, as Rhode Island Veteran-owned Small Business of the Year
  • Dr. Lori A. Duquette, owner of Duquette Family Eye Care Inc. in North Smithfield, as Rhode Island Woman-owned Small Business of the Year
  • Bianca Alicea, owner of ChubbyChicoCharms LLC in North Providence, as Rhode Island SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year
  • Laura M. Ernst, president, of Land & Coastal Services LLC in East Greenwich, as Rhode Island Microenterprise of the Year.

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