Julia Dannen, D&S Services, Mason City

Bruce Teague, Caring Hands & More LLC, Iowa City

Rebecca Runyon, Bessie’s Parlor, Ames

AMES, Iowa – America’s SBDC Iowa (SBDC) is pleased to announce the winners of its 2021 special entrepreneur awards.

 Julia Dannen, Owner, D&S Services, is the 2021 Deb Dalziel Woman Entrepreneur Achievement Award winner. Bruce Teague, Owner, Caring Hands & More LLC, is the 2021 Neal Smith Entrepreneur of the Year Award winner. Rebecca Runyon, Founder, Bessie’s Parlor, is the 2021 Think Big Award winner.

The Deb Dalziel Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award honors an Iowa woman entrepreneur who has significantly changed or improved her life and the lives of others. The award is presented in memory of Deb Dalziel, a devoted small business advocate who was director of the Small Business Development Center at Southeastern Community College, Burlington, from 1987 until her death from cancer in 1999, at the age of 44.

Brook Boehmler, Regional Director of the North Iowa Area SBDC, nominated Dannen for the Deb Dalziel Award because, “Julia has been an inspirational long-term client of the Small Business Development Center. Her ‘can-do’ attitude helps put small business owners at ease. Julia’s tenacity and dedication to excellence has helped her build a successful and influential business in Mason City.”

The Neal Smith Entrepreneur of the Year Award honors an Iowa entrepreneur who has been in business a minimum of three years and has been significantly assisted by an Iowa Small Business Development Center. The award was established with a dual purpose—to honor long-time Iowa Congressman Neal Smith for his years of service to Iowa’s small businesses, and to recognize Iowa’s entrepreneurs, who are the driving force behind Iowa’s economic growth.

Paul Heath, Regional Director of the University of Iowa SBDC, nominated Teague for the Neal Smith Award, stating, “Bruce is an extra ordinary individual. He has managed to build a large successful company and in addition he now leads the City of Iowa City as Mayor. Under all these pressures he manages to remain a calm, positive, polite and strategic leader.”

Dave Biedenbach, Regional Director of the Iowa State University SBDC, nominated Runyon for the Think Big Award because, “Rebecca has and continues to demonstrate her entrepreneurial spirit and determination and is always willing to help and advocate for women-owned businesses and young entrepreneurs in our growing ecosystem.”

Lisa Shimkat, State Director of America’s SBDC Iowa, agrees that Dannen, Teague and Runyon are very deserving of these awards saying, “We are honored to have clients who have worked diligently to move their businesses forward while still showing a strong commitment to their communities and customers. We are delighted to be able to recognize their hard work and success with these awards.”

More information regarding ceremony details will be at a later date.

For additional information about the award winners:

Julia Dannen, D&S Services: https://www.dsservicesmc.com/

Bruce Teague, Caring Hands & More LLC: https://caringhandsandmore.com/

Rebecca Runyon, Bessie’s Parlor: http://bessiesparlor.com/

America’s SBDC Iowa is an outreach program of Iowa State University’s Ivy College of Business and the Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations. Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity, 3410 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, Hotline 515-294-1222, email eooffice@iastate.edu.

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, America’s SBDC Iowa has 15 regional assistance centers located strategically across the state. Since program inception in 1981, the SBDC has helped Iowa businesses and entrepreneurs through no fee, confidential, customized, professional business counseling and practical, affordable training workshops.

For more information on America’s SBDC Iowa programs or services, call (515) 294-2030 or visit www.iowasbdc.org, or on social media @IowaSBDC.

Press Contacts:

Brianna Hall, America’s SBDC Iowa, 515-294-2030, bschwind@iastate.edu

Lisa Shimkat, America’s SBDC Iowa, 515-294-2030, lshimkat@iastate.edu

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