Regional SBA Office Chooses Person of Year

Mark Press of Gold Coast Baking Co. in Santa Ana was named Small Business Person of the Year on Thursday by the local division of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Judee Slack of Slack & Associates in Westminster was honored as the California and regional accountant advocate; and Elena Nunez of Nunez & Associates in Fullerton was named California women-in-business advocate.

Other honorees were John Hall of Rickenbacker International Corp. in Santa Ana, exporter of the year; Judy Blum of Hughes Aircraft Co. in Fullerton, minority advocate; Joan Earhart of Orange National Bank in Orange, financial services advocate; and Cathy Taylor, a columnist for the Orange County Register, media advocate.

Several other local business owners were recognized for their outstanding efforts to develop successful operations. They include Patricia Gosnell of Regal Flowers in Orange, Linda Newby of Gallery Travel in Anaheim, John David March of Fountain Valley Bodyworks Inc., John Mueller of American Auto Wrecking in San Bernardino, Anthony Reguero of Worldwide Investment Network in Irvine, Bruce Ross of ExpressAir Messenger Service in Newport Beach, and Rigoberto Bustamante Vazquez of Advanco Fire Protection Inc. in Montclair.