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One winning entrepreneur is owner of Fogle True Value in Centerville
AMES – America’s Small Business Development Centers Iowa recently announced Steve Fogle, owner of Fogle True Value & Hardware, Centerville, as the 2017 Neal Smith Entrepreneur of the Year award winner. And Alisa Roth, owner of Bloom Works Floral, Council Bluffs, as the 2017 Deb Dalziel Woman Entrepreneurial award winner.
Wednesday afternoon Fogle talked about the award and the work they have put into their business which has helped the community grow.
“For us it’s three years of hard work that we’ve had to borrow money but we’ve grown and helped the community,” Fogle said. “And so by us growing we’re helping ourselves and the community at the same time and other local businesses.”
Bryan Ziegler, regional director of the Indian Hills Community College SBDC in Ottumwa, nominated Fogle for the award, stating, “Steve Fogle has had a growing impact on Centerville. He started out in construction, filling a need at that time, then went on to purchase, move, and grow the True Value Hardware in Centerville, creating 15 jobs and adding additional needed services and products. He has helped his community extensively for the last few years and he and his company are now considered one of Centerville’s core businesses.”
Sue Pitts, regional director of the Iowa Western Community College SBDC in Council Bluffs, nominated Roth for the award because “Alisa has become a respected entrepreneur and is very involved in the Council Bluffs community. She has been through many trying times with her business and in her personal life but has trudged through it all and has never stopped working her business and putting her heart and soul into making Council Bluffs the best place it can be.”
Lisa Shimkat, state director of America’s SBDC Iowa, agrees that Roth and Fogle deserve these awards saying, “We are honored to have clients who have worked diligently to move their businesses forward while showing a strong commitment to their communities and customers. We are delighted to be able to recognize their hard work and success with these awards.”
The two SBDC special entrepreneur awards will be presented to the winners in a special ceremony on March 14 at the State Capitol in Des Moines.
America’s SBDC Iowa is an outreach program of Iowa State University’s College of Business and the Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations.
Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, America’s SBDC Iowa has 15 regional assistance centers located strategically across the state. Since program inception in 1981, the SBDC has helped Iowa businesses and entrepreneurs through no fee, confidential, customized, professional business counseling and practical, affordable training workshops.
For more information on America’s SBDC Iowa programs or services visit www.iowasbdc.org.
Read the article at dailyiowegian.com.
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