Alabama SBDC clients receive national recognition, invitation to National Small Business Week Awards.

BIRMINGHAM, AL– Today the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Alabama District Office is celebrating Alabama’s Small Business Persons of the Year and three additional honorees as it prepares for National Small Business Week, which will take place May 4-10, 2025. Along with awards ceremonies, the week will include a national small business roadshow with SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, a two-day virtual summit, community events and educational sessions about manufacturing, digital marketing, cybersecurity and cryptocurrency, as well as online business resources and renowned speakers.

Kimberly and Larry Lewis, owners of PROJECTXYZ, INC., were selected as Alabama’s Small Business Persons of the Year for 2025, a nationally recognized award. “PROJECTXYZ, INC. is a great example of a local small business empowering the state of Alabama’s economy,” said Janita R. Stewart, SBA Alabama District Director (acting). “In accordance with the SBA’s Office of Advocacy’s most recent Small Business Profiles, there are more than 449,000 small businesses in Alabama contributing to the state’s economy, and business owners like Kimberly and Larry Lewis, are helping to lead the way. SBA is proud to recognize The Lewis’ as Alabama’s 2025 Small Business Persons of the Year!”

In addition to the nationally recognized awards, there are three state-level recognized honorees in various categories. In alphabetical order, the Alabama Rural-Owned Small Business of the Year, Alabama Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year and Alabama Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year. These awards recognize businesses for their growth in revenues, growth in physical space, in job creation, their resilience through challenges, and/or contributions to their local communities.

National Winners

Alabama Small Business Person(s) of the Year: CEO Kimberly Lewis and President Larry Lewis, PROJECTXYZ, INC., Huntsville, AL

Founded in 2002, PROJECTXYZ, INC. is a woman-owned small business headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama that provides technical engineering solutions for the federal government and manufacturing, logistics, IT, and alternative energy industries. During the Pandemic, PROJECTXYZ, INC. was a recipient of SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program and a COVID-19 EIDL. Additionally, with the guidance of SBA’s resource partner, the Alabama SBDC network (including the Alabama SBDC at UNA, and the UA Capital Access Program) the company acquired a facility in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, which not only expanded their company’s footprint and services, but also saved 137 jobs. The business has grown significantly, adding facilities in Alabama and Texas, including a 50,000 sq ft location in Huntsville, a 68,000 sq ft facility in Muscle Shoals, and an 110,000 sq ft facility in El Paso. This expansion has driven revenue growth and increased the company’s employee count to 421. Kimberly and Larry are active in their community, supporting scholarships, STEM initiatives, business mentorship, and internships, and both serve on various economic development boards.

Phoenix Award for Disaster Recovery – Outstanding Contributions, Volunteer: Senior Pastor, John E. Grayson, of Gospel Tabernacle Church, Selma, AL.

This award recognizes inspiring resilience in the aftermath of devastating natural disasters and outstanding contributions toward recovery efforts. Pastor John E. Grayson is a dedicated faith leader, mentor, and advocate. Born in Bashi, Alabama, he learned the values of humility and hard work early in life. He pursued higher education before answering his ministerial calling, earning degrees in Pastoral Counseling. In 1993, he and his wife, Dr. Chinester Grayson, moved to Selma, Alabama, where he became Senior Pastor of Gospel Tabernacle Church and Faith Temple Church. As overseer of Alabama First Jurisdiction and District Superintendent for multiple congregations, he has led faith-based initiatives, educational programs, and disaster relief efforts, strengthening communities and inspiring resilience.

Pastor Grayson’s leadership was vital in the aftermath of the January 2023 tornado in Selma. He transformed Gospel Tabernacle Church into a shelter, cleared debris, secured housing, and helped survivors access aid. Using the church van as a mobile assistance unit, he guided officials through disaster zones and ensured community needs were met. Under his leadership, the Gospel Tabernacle Disaster Assistance Center repaired over 25 homes, distributed $120,000 in aid, and hosted the SBA’s Business Recovery Center. His tireless efforts provided not only physical relief but also unity and hope during Selma’s recovery.

Alabama Honorees

Alabama Rural-Owned Small Business of the Year: CEO Duane Tolbert, Tolbert Insurance Agency, Inc., Oneonta, AL

Duane Tolbert established the Tolbert Insurance Agency, a State Farm franchisee, in 2017 which provides insurance products to customers such as auto, homeowners, renters, life, health, business and pet insurance across Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

During the Pandemic, the business was a recipient of SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program to help maintain staffing. Additionally, the business has benefitted from the guidance of SBA’s resource partner, the Alabama SBDC Network (specifically the Alabama SBDC at Jax State and the UA Capital Access Program), that helped them secure a commercial loan to construct a new building for the business which increased their square footage from 1,900 to 2,600. Employees and revenues have steadily increased since establishment.

Alabama Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year: CEO Sean Chappell, Southern Sun Laundry, Foley, AL

Sean Chappell, an Army National Guard Veteran, founded Southern Sun Laundry in 2010 which provides commercial hospitality laundry services to various hotels, restaurants, and condominiums in the Alabama Gulf Coast region. During the Pandemic, Southern Sun Laundry experienced revenue slowdowns as the hospitality industry was impacted. The business was a recipient of SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program and a COVID-19 EIDL to maintain operations. However, just has business was recovering from the pandemic, the company had another major set-back as a building fire destroyed their facility and equipment in August of 2021.

Fortunately, they are where able to take advantage of the SBA 504 loan program, to construct a larger facility, from 6,800 sq ft to 23,000 sq ft, and purchase new machinery and equipment, which increased their production and efficiency. The business went from processing 5 million pounds of laundry with no more room to grow to 18 million pounds of laundry increasing their customer base, their annual revenues, creating more jobs, and still have more room to grow for the future.

Alabama Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year: CEO Lori Purnell, Spencer Environmental Consultants, LLC, Birmingham, AL

Lori Purnell founded Spencer Environment Consultants, a certified woman-owned small business (WOSB), in 1980 and today, the firm specializes in providing health, safety and environmental compliance consulting and training for small to mid-sized businesses in manufacturing, distribution, transportation, government agencies and universities. In 2019, they further expanded their services by launching innovative technology platforms to help their clients manage compliance records and audits. During the Pandemic, the business was a recipient of SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program and a COVID-19 EIDL.

Additionally, the company has benefited from ongoing counseling from SBA’s resource partner, the Women’s Business Center, and as a result, the business continuously looks for and evaluates growth opportunities. Headquartered in Birmingham, AL, the company provides services to numerous clients in the southeast region but has grown their client base across the U.S. Their revenues have continuously grown 20% for the last few years and employees have grown by 300% since its establishment.

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Details on National Small Business Week, the virtual summit, registrations and speakers are featured on www.sba.gov/NSBW and will be updated as additional information and activities are confirmed. Local events will be featured on www.sba.gov/events and identifiable by searching with #SmallBusinessWeek.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.