HOUSTON (Nov. 9, 06) – Five area small businesses have been awarded the 2006 Small Business of the Year in their respective regions by the North Harris Montgomery Community College District Small Business Development Center.
In the Cy-Fair College area, the winning business was Pate Engineers. Pate is a full-service civil engineering consulting firm. Established by Gary Pate in 1970, the company provides engineering solutions for infrastructure planning, civil design, program management, construction management and surveying. The firm has been instrumental in implementing new development and roadway concepts in Harris County and their work has been recognized for excellence by the Texas Council of Engineering Companies.
Green Oaks Diagnostic was selected as winner for the Kingwood College region. Green Oaks Diagnostics opened in 1999 with three employees. Today they have 20 full-time and six part-time employees. Since debuting with a single diagnostic imaging magnet, Green Oaks has moved to a 10,000-square-foot facility in Humble and added a computed tomography machine, a High Field Magnet and replaced their original equipment with the newest open magnet available.
Nova Biologicals won in the Montgomery College region. Nova provides nationwide testing and monitoring services to the drinking water industry. It was the first independent laboratory to be certified by the State of Texas to conduct water quality compliance testing. Nova was the first in Texas to develop computer software for the processing of drinking water test data. It has also created new technology for testing water samples for harmful bacteria and recently completed a joint venture with the City of Conroe to install a Drinking Water Security beta site.
In the North Harris area, OMNIBANK received the award. OMNIBANK was founded in 1954 in Houston, Texas as an independent commercial bank. It provides responsive and personal service to small businesses and consumers. Currently the bank maintains more than $325 million in assets and $260 million in deposits. OMNIBANK has locations in Houston, Austin, Lockhart and recently broke ground on a new branch in the San Antonio area. The bank’s age, conservatism and management stability have been important strengths in its ability to remain a stable independent presence for more than 50 years.
And wining in the Tomball College region was Spring Nursery and Landscape of Tomball. The company is a full-service horticultural firm, offering complete landscape and irrigation design, installation and maintenance. Started in 1983 with two employees and annual revenue of $120,000, the company has grown to employ approximately 45 full-time employees and has annual revenue of $2.91 million. Spring Nursery and Landscape continues to grow by about eight percent each year and is active in the Tomball community by providing educational events for those interested in gardening and landscaping.
“This year’s winners are all great examples of the impact that a small business can have. Their efforts to support the community are as significant as the quality of their products and services, and for that they deserve our recognition,” said Ray Laughter, NHMCCD vice chancellor for external affairs.
In addition to the small business award presentations, Dr. Joe Airola received the newly-named John E. Pickelman Business Advocacy Award for his support of small business growth throughout the district. Dr. Airola served as chancellor of NHMCCD from 1984 to 1991 and was integral in the creation of the district’s small business development center. Dr. Nellie Thorogood, a past president of Kingwood College and former NHMCCD vice chancellor of external affairs, along with Dr. Kenne Turner were also recognized for their efforts to bring an SBDC to the college district.
Proceeds from the banquet will benefit the NHMCCD Small Business Development Center which assists individuals in the development of new businesses and provides existing businesses with a wide array of business management services to help them grow and prosper. Business management consulting services through the SBDC are always cost free.
NHMCCD comprises Cy-Fair College, Kingwood College, Montgomery College, North Harris College, Tomball College, six satellite centers and The University Center. To learn more, visit www.nhmccd.edu.
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