Meet the 2011 Winners


Larry Ellis

Del Mar College SBDC Counselor of the Year

Larry Ellis is the SBDC Rural Program Manager and a Certified Business Advisor, Level IV who efficiently and effectively services eight very rural counties. Businesses within those counties continue to improve every year with his expert assistance. Larry has been with SBDC since October 2000.More...

Mario Dominguez Mario Dominguez

Financial Services Champion of the Year

Mario Dominguez was born and raised in Kingsville, Texas, where he attended Texas A & M University and graduated with a BBA, majoring in Finance.Mario is a Commercial Loan officer at American Bank, N.A., located at the South Branch More...

Catherine Colomo Riojas Catherine Colomo Riojas

Women in Business Champion of the Year

Catherine Colomo Riojas has owned OTB-Outside the Box “A Marketing & Promotional Co, LLC”, and Optimize the Body “A Nutritional Club” since 2008 and has over 12 years of sales and marketing experience. More...

Gae Callaway Gae Callaway

Home-Based Business Champion of the Year

Gae Callaway is an Area Coordinator for Pre-Paid Legal, Identity Theft and GoSmallBiz. She is certified in group security, small business and commercial benefits and the trucking industry. More...

Judy LaPointe Judy LaPointe & Steve Jennings
Steve Jennings

Small Business Persons of the Year

Judy LaPointe and Steve Jennings purchased Medical Rehab Supply in 2003. They basically rescued a business that was headed for bankruptcy. In just a short amount of time, they began expanding the business. More...

Gabriel Guerra Gabriel Guerra

Minority Small Business Champion of the Year

Gabriel Guerra has been an advocate for entrepreneurs and small business owners through his involvement with various boards and organizations. More...

Sue Catherman Sue Catherman

Veteran Small Business Champion

Sue Catherman, a retired naval Lt. Commander, spent over ten years working with aspiring entrepreneurs and other transitioning military men and women during her time at Naval Station Ingleside. More...

Jack Green Jack Palmer Green

SCORE Counselor of the Year

Jack Palmer Green acquired Fairbairn Electric in 1975 and served as President and CEO, along with all the other caps he wore as a small business owner, from 1975 through 2007. More...