SBAM named State Senator Jud Gilbert (R-Algonac) as the organization’s 2009 Legislator of the Year. Sen. Gilbert was presented the honor at SBAM’s 40th annual meeting and networking luncheon June 18 in East Lansing.
SBAM President and CEO Rob Fowler said that Sen. Gilbert, a small business owner, has been a friend to small business throughout his legislative career. “He is a key member on Senate committees that affect small business and has worked closely with our government relations staff on issues such as repealing the MBT surcharge, excluding sales tax from the MBT gross receipts formula, and he is currently shepherding a bill package through the Senate that would make Michigan’s regulatory procedures more efficient and more fair to small business. And he has always had a consistent voting record on issues important to small business,” said Fowler.
Mark Sanchez, associate editor of Business Review Western Michigan, was named SBAM’s 2009 Communicator of the Year. Fowler said that “In his two decades of business reporting, Mark has shown exceptional skill in deciphering complex topics, like health care, and explaining those topics in a logical and understandable fashion. He is willing to fairly evaluate all sides of a controversial issue and present a balanced, informative and useful report to his audience. Mark’s writing displays empathy for his small business readers and a clear understanding of the challenges they face as entrepreneurs.”
SBAM presented its 2009 Advocate of the Year Award to Jerry Grubb of Wee Discover Child Daycare & Learning Center in Waterford. “Jerry has been a staunch advocate for SBAM,” said Fowler. “He has become an active member of the Legislative Action Council and not only contacts his legislative officials on a regular basis, he knows them on a first name basis.”