SBA Names Businesswoman of the Year
SBA Names Businesswoman of the Year: The U.S. Small Business Administration announced that Marilyn Carlson Nelson, chairman and CEO of the Carlson Companies, has been designated as the SBA Businesswoman of the Year.
The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that Marilyn Carlson Nelson, chairman and CEO of the Carlson Companies, has been designated as the SBA Businesswoman of the Year.
Ms. Carlson Nelson will be formally recognized at a luncheon honoring women entrepreneurs on Thursday, April 28 during the agency's national small business conference, SBA Expo '05, taking place in Washington, DC, April 26 through 28.
"Marilyn Carlson Nelson is one of the nation's leading woman entrepreneurs and we're very pleased to honor her with this award during our national small business conference," said SBA Deputy Administrator Melanie Sabelhaus. "She is a role model for all women in business, someone we admire and respect. As chair of the National Women's Business Council, Marilyn has been a strong advocate for women entrepreneurs and has lent her voice on key issues affecting this important constituency, one of the fastest growing segments in small business."
Ms. Carlson Nelson is the leader of one of the largest privately-held companies in the U.S. In 2004, Forbes magazine recognized her as one of "The World's Most Powerful Women."
Since being appointed by President George W. Bush to be chair of the National Women's Business Council in 2002, Ms. Carlson Nelson has taken an active role in promoting and advocating on behalf of women's business issues. In 2003, she convened a meeting on access to affordable health care. She has sought to bring critical issues facing women entrepreneurs into the public debate.
Ms. Carlson Nelson has received numerous national and international honors for her civic and corporate work including the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship and citations by the Swedish monarchy.
To learn more about the activities surrounding SBA Expo '05, please visit www.sba.gov/expo.