The SCORE Awards is an annual event that celebrates the outstanding achievements of America's small businesses. Equal parts ceremony, celebration and entertainment, the SCORE Awards is the preeminent distinction in honoring and supporting small business in the U.S.
At this event, we recognize the people and companies that have demonstrated unique vision, innovation and achievement in support of America's economy and small business community.
2017 SCORE Award Winners
To select the 2017 SCORE Awards honorees, we asked our clients to nominate their businesses, share their accomplishments and explain how SCORE helped them achieve their dreams. Below are this year's winners.
Outstanding American Manufacturer Small Business Award - Desserts Out The Jar and More
Desserts Out The Jar creates individually crafted, home style gourmet desserts, conveniently packaged in authentic, traditional style mason jars.
Owner: Yashica McKinney, St. Louis, MO
Mentor: Gregory Shapiro
Watch Desserts Out the Jar's Video
Award Presented by Sam's Club
Outstanding Community-Impact Small Business Award - Aunt Laurie's
Aunt Laurie’s creates handwoven gift baskets assembled by disabled clients going through job-skills training.
Owner: Laurie Brown, Bluffton, SC
Mentor: Rod Casavant
Watch Aunt Laurie's Video
Award Presented by MassMutual
Outstanding Diverse Small Business Award – Vegan Distribution
Vegan Distribution is a specialty food distributor of plant-based products for the foodservice industry.
Owner: Sharon Lu, Hayward, CA
Mentor: Mitchell Grunat
Watch Vegan Distribution's Video
Award Presented by AT&T
Outstanding Encore Entrepreneur Award – Hughes Barney Investigations, LLC
Hughes Barney Investigations is a premiere, woman-owned background investigation and security services firm.
Owner: Jeannette Hughes, Largo, MD
Mentors: Karen Williams
Watch Hughes Barney Investigations' Video
Award Presented by Liberty Tax
Outstanding Franchise Small Business Award - College Hunks Hauling Junk of Northern Virginia
College Hunks Hauling Junk of NoVa provides stress-free, full-service local moving services, removing unwanted items from people’s homes or businesses to dispose, recycle or donate.
Owner: Brad Westermann, Falls Church, VA
Mentors: Richard Rose and Len Brinkman
Watch College Hunks Hauling of Northern Virginia's Video
Award Presented by FranNet
Outstanding Green Small Business Award - Stat-Medicament-Disposal Corporation
Stat-Medicament-Disposal Corporation created a bottle that safely neutralizes pharmaceuticals, OTC medications and vitamins conveniently at home.
Owner: Larry Kenemore, Jr., Siloam Springs, AR
Mentor: Gregg Gimlin
Watch Stat-Medicament-Disposal's Video
Award Presented by FedEx
Outstanding Innovative Small Business Award - CapeAble Sensory Products, LLC
CapeAble’s weighted blankets, weighted wearables, and sensory enrichment tools deliver deep pressure touch stimulation which enables the central nervous system to communicate most effectively with the brain.
Owners: Marna Pacheco and Susan Hickok, Wayne, IN
Mentor: Bill Causey
Watch CapeAble's Video
Award Presented by Verisign
Outstanding Job-Creator Award - Advocations
Advocations connects and supports professionals with disabilities and inclusive companies nationwide.
Owner: Lindsey Haaser, Charlotte, NC
Mentors: Chuck Sawicki and Adriana McLane
Watch Advocations' Video
Award Presented by Intuit
Outstanding Veteran-Owned Small Business Award - Urban Dwell
Urban Dwell is an independent boutique-style gift shop featuring carefully hand-curated hip and trendy merchandise combined with a fun, well thought-out shopping space to provide a warm, inviting shopping experience.
Owner: Thomas McMahon, Washington, DC
Mentor: Richard Rose
Watch Urban Dwell's Video
Award Presented by Kimco Realty
Outstanding Woman-Owned Small Business Award - Sugar Beeze, LLC
Sugar Beeze was created by a mom desperately searching for a protein snack for her son, a Type 1 Diabetic, and the result was the Benji Bar®.
Owner: Julie Maddox, Greenville, SC
Mentor: Bill Heitz
Watch Sugar Beeze's Video
Award Presented by Vera Bradley Designs, Inc.
Outstanding Young Entrepreneur Award - The One Gallon Soap Company
The One Gallon Soap Company is an environmentally-minded company producing liquid hand soap made from recycled bars of hotel soap.
Owner: Tristan Corriveau, Scarborough, ME
Mentors: Donna LeBreux and Chuck Grossman
Watch The One Gallon Soap Company's Video
Award Presented by Deluxe Corporation
Senate Small Business Champion: Senator Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia
House Small Business Champion: Congressman Tom Graves, Georgia
SCORE Chapter of the Year: SCORE Boston
