Torrance Entrepreneur Named Small Business Person of The Year

Los Angeles, California, May 2005 - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the Los Angeles District Office winners of their annual Small Business Week Awards competition. The Los Angeles SBA Office covers Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties.  Torrance headquartered bd Systems' owner, Clarisa Faye Howard was selected as the Small Business Person of The Year.

The Award was presented to Ms. Howard at the SBA's 24th Annual Small Business Week Awards Luncheon held on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The luncheon was be presented by the SBA and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.

Coincidentally, Ms. Howard's company will also celebrate its 24th anniversary in October 2005.  The firm was originally founded in 1981 as a space systems engineering business with a staff of 3 to provide Support Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) for the military.  

Today, bd Systems is the quintessential model of the super-successful woman and minority owned enterprise, as reflected by a steady growing revenue base, very strong margins, and-- talk about job creation-- a payroll covering more than 340 professionals, approximately one half of which have earned Masters or Ph.D. degrees.  The company operates from 20 locations in ten states throughout the United States.

"We are extremely proud of Clarisa Howard's many accomplishments," stated Los Angeles SBA District Director Alberto G. Alvarado. "Her commitment to effective and efficient service to the Federal Government sector, coupled with her unwavering dedication to fashion her firm into an ethical, socially responsive, and quality small business has paid dividends as reflected in bd Systems' excellent financial condition and its ability to foster economic development, particularly through job creation. Clarisa Howard is a true winner!"