How They Became Small-Business Champions

When it comes to acknowledging the contributions of small businesses, few honors are more prestigious than the Small Business Administration's Champion awards.

Although the SBA's Small Business Champions are nominated rather than plucked from the masses—and must have accepted the SBA's help at one point or another, limiting the pool of contenders—they needed to prove their mettle nonetheless. Not only did the national winners of awards like Exporter of the Year and Young Entrepreneur of the Year have to show evidence of success through profits and sales, many of them needed to prove they've helped create business opportunities for fellow entrepreneurs.