By Natalie Cunningham
Kentucky Small Business Development Center
Fedders Construction of Newport and nine other small businesses from across the Commonwealth received Kentucky Small Business Development Center (Kentucky SBDC) Pacesetter awards for their exemplary business practices and growth.
The Kentucky Celebrates Small Business awards ceremony celebrates the accomplishments, hard work, and courage of Kentucky entrepreneurs. This joint celebration between the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Kentucky SBDC honors both Kentucky SBDC Pacesetters and SBA award winners. For the first time, the Pacesetter Awards honored startup businesses alongside the traditional second-stage companies commonly showcased at the event.
Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton, Albert Fedders of Fedders Construction, and SBDC State Director Kristina Joyce. (Photo provided)
Lt. Governor Jenean Hampton, Kentucky SBDC State Director, Kristina Joyce, SBA Acting District Director, Robert Coffey, and small business supporters from across the state gathered this week in the Capitol rotunda to honor Fedders Construction with a Startup Business Pacesetter award.
Fedders Construction is a design-build construction company focused on building trusting client relationships and quality finished projects. The company’s success was instant.
Within the first year the company exceeded its initial financial projections exponentially. Owner and Founder Albert Fedders set an intention for his business to invest in the community.
Soon after opening, Fedders Construction needed more space. Fedders chose to purchase the largest vacant, historic building in Newport’s westside. He engaged the community by seeking input on what they should do with the excess space to improve the neighborhood.
An advocate for all small business owners, Fedders frequently answers the call to mentor and support other small business owners.
As part of their Pacesetter award, Fedders Construction received a promotional video. View all Pacesetter winner promotional videos on the Kentucky SBDC Youtube page.
The Fedders team with NKU SBDC Director Rebecca Volpe
2019 Pacesetter honorees include:
Startup Business Pacesetters:
Achievements Through Actions, Somerset
Fedders Construction, Newport
Nymbl Systems, Lexington
Paws Town, LLC, Owensboro
Tree Of The Field, Paint Lick
Traditional Business Pacesetters:
American Metal Works, Paintsville
freight house, Paducah
J-Mack BBQ, LLC, Gilbertsville
Running Soles, LLC, Elizabethtown,
Straight Cut Tree Services, LLC, Corbin
U.S. SBA award winners include:
Kentucky Small Business Person of the Year: Paul Isenberg, Bowling Green
Kentucky Financial Services Advocate of the Year – SBA Bank Lender: Barry Frazier, Mount Sterling
Kentucky Financial Services Advocate of the Year – SBA Microlender: Regina Becknell, Paintsville
Rural Small Business Person of the Year: Michelle Tapscott, Gilbertsville
Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year: Will Rivera, Elizabethtown
The Kentucky Small Business Development Center’s Pacesetter Recognition Program honors high-performing second stage and startup businesses that are producing innovative products, increasing sales, creating jobs, and serving communities of the Commonwealth.
The Kentucky Small Business Development Center, part of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, is a network of 12 offices located throughout the state. The center helps existing, and startup businesses succeed by offering high quality, in-depth and hands-on services. KSBDC is a partner program with the U.S. Small Business Administration. For more information on KSBDC services visit http://www.ksbdc.org/.
