What are bakers, manufacturers, a printer, a farmer and a construction security specialist have in common?
They are all among the SBA prices of the SBBA of the National Small Business Week 2025.
The winners were honored during National Small Business Week SBA Awards & Resource Expo May 8 in Branford.
The event was a collaboration between the CBIA and the Small Business Administration of the United States Connecticut District.
“These entrepreneurs have been appointed by local organizations for their achievements, their innovation and their unwavering commitment to the community,” said Connecticut district director Catherine Marx.
“They understand that small businesses do not only work in neighborhoods, they help build them.”
Small business of the year
The small business of the year of this year highlighted its link with its community while discussing its entrepreneurial career.
Michelle Nicholson from Flour Girl Bakery never intended to be a professional baker.
Despite her parents with a restaurant when she grew up, Nicholson began her marketing career before moving on to a mother at home.
It was only during a trip to the King Arthur Flour Company in Vermont that she was inspired to learn to cook the leaven.
“It was never a goal to sell it,” Nicholson told Keith Nesbitt from Berkshire Bank. “The only thing I wanted to do was do it.”
After a lot of tests and errors and the help of her friends and a small Facebook group, Nicholson said she had finally understood.
“It was then that it started to move,” she said. “And while I was starting to improve, my friends were like:” Hey, you know, I would like to buy that. “”
Rapid increase
Nicholson became officially approved in 2019, selling his bread with his porch.
But in March 2020, things changed when pandemic success and its “funny little hobby” quickly became an increasing business.
“It has become very popular, very fast,” she said.
“And we went from, you know, 10 people, 50 people, 100 people, 500 people.”
“It has become very popular, very fast.”
Michelle Nicholson of the Flour Girl bakery
Nicholson quickly exceeded his kitchen at home and rented a church commercial kitchen before finally opening the Flour Girl bakery.
The company now includes 40 employees and several buildings on a small campus in a historic section of Hebron.
They plan to open a fourth building in the near future for new coffee that extends their cooking capacity.
“People say it’s just this picturesque place, and it’s just something that you can no longer find much,” said Nicholson.
Community focus
She said that throughout the process, Nicholson said that the Hebron community had been the key to their success.
“We are known to be part of the community, give back to the community, and that is really, I think, how we arrived and the brand,” she said, noting that the company has a $ 0 marketing budget.
“Instead, our strategy is that we say yes to all those who come to us.”
“Small businesses are a powerful force for good.”
Nicolson
“When you are a community business, that’s what you need to do. You must support the community. “
Nicholson recently represented Connecticut as the small business of the year. During a trip to Washington, DC
She called this a humiliating experience to be with so many entrepreneurs from across the country.
“Small businesses are a powerful force for good,” said Nicholson. “They are the backbone of our economy, and they are at the heart of our country.”
National exporter of the year
Nicholson was not the only small business representing Connecticut in Washington, DC
The SBA named Bauer, Inc. Connecticut, New England and the national exporter of the year.
The manufacturer of aerospace components based in Bristol recently marked its 100th anniversary.
The company exports its equipment worldwide with customers such as US Military, Pratt & Whitney, Lockheed Martin, UTC Aerospace Systems and Commercial Airlines.
“This award reflects the hard work and the dedication of our entire team, past and presents,” said Bauer’s main vice-president Michael Aletta.
“It also reflects the strength and resilience of small American businesses, companies that are ready to adapt, compete and lead on a world scene.”
Expansion of borders
AULETTA said that the company’s commitment to export had started in the 1970s when its grandfather, Lou AULETTA, SR., saw the potential to extend beyond their borders.
“He had the vision, and frankly, courage, to look beyond what was familiar and to imagine Bauer in competition on a world scene,” said Auletta.
“Our success does not come from the chase of opportunity, but to remain faithful to whom we are.”
Michael Auletta de Bauer
AULETTA said that Bauer’s imprint is now extending over 80 countries.
The company currently has 105 employees and two and a half years ago suffered a major expansion in their Bristol establishment.
“Our success has not just chased the opportunity, but to remain faithful to whom we are, a company rooted in a quality service and long-term partnerships,” he said.
Corporate spirit
The spirit of commitment, resilience and entrepreneurship was a common thread in all the winners.
“You have given so many things to your communities, and above all, you have inspired your condition with your perseverance, your autonomy and your entrepreneurship,” said Peter Steele, regional administrator of New England.
The other winners are:
- Jeffrey Butland, a small family business of the year: Gregory Confessore, Cricket Press, Inc. Confesse is the second generation owner of the printed shop of West Hartford which started in 1971. The company offers high -end printing solutions and promotional products to industries across the country. “For me, each component of what our company represents revolves around the family component, starting with my own family,” he said.
- Manufacturer of the year: Rafey Zaheer, Medzah Industries. Founded in 2016, Matzah manufactures medical supplies, including biodegradable nitrile gloves, advanced care products and sustainable medical equipment. Zaheer thanked organizations like SBA and the Small Business Development Center calling them “the reason why small businesses like Medzah have the capacity to share their history and develop small businesses here in the state of Connecticut.”
- Microenterprise Business of the Year: Matthew Quinn and Steven Potoff, Greenmont Healthcare Products LLC. Greenmont Healthcare Products has developed an ergonomic thrust bar for wheelchairs that reduces the caregivers. The company has customers in 30 countries and even sent a fireplace the Pope Francis. “When I bought my first company at 27, I did not expect that 55 years later, I would receive this price,” said Quinn. “There is something to say for perseverance, and it’s a bit like receiving the Academy Prize.”
Lower row from left to right: never enough Bake Shop Filipptti, Chris Pacheco des Mushrooms Seacoast, and Elizabeth Calvanese by Goggin Safety Serevices LLC.
- Young entrepreneur of the year: Aimee Filipptti, never enough cooking. Filipptti started her business at the Ledyard Farmers Market in 2019. She opened a showcase in the village of Olde Mistick in 2020 which grew up to include the toast + creative tonic. “If you are thinking of starting a small business, it’s very scary, but do it, even if it’s messy,” said Filipptti. “You are growing up, you will fail, but you will understand what suits you best, and you will fall in love with chaos.”
- Small Business of the year belonging to veterans: Chris Pacheco, Seacoast mushrooms. After serving in the United States, Pacheco joined the business world, but quickly discovered a new passion and launched its growing gastronomic mushrooms. The company now produces up to 800 pounds of mushrooms each week in its installation of 12,000 square feet in Stonington. “It is an honor to receive this award which represents veterans through the great state of Connecticut,” said Pacheco. “These are the people who then served their country and serve their communities now.”
- Small Business of the year belonging to women: Elizabeth Calvanais, Goggin Safety Services LLC. Calvana launched his business after discovering a passion for ergonomics and prevented the site industries. The company offers inspections and on -site security training for the construction industry. Calvanese said that she was also working to bring more women to the construction industry. “We are considering about 11% of women who are really under construction,” she said. “We hope to keep this issue in the future and upwards.”
The National Small Business Week SBA Awards & Resource Expo was produced by the CBIA and the Connecticut SBA district and made possible thanks to the generous support of the Berkshire Bank and M&T Bank, with additional support from Liberty Bank, Ives Bank, Webster Bank, Comcast Business and BDC Capital / CDC New England.