Women-owned businesses win SBA recognition
Magazine gives Huntsville image a boost, official says
Saturday, May 29, 2005
A Two Huntsville women-owned small businesses have received Small Business Administration awards.
Sharon Morgan, the chief executive officer of Morgan Research Co., is the first recipient of Alabama's Woman-Owned Small Business Person of the Year Award from the SBA's Alabama district office. Elaine Plank, president and CEO of SafeHealth Inc., received the Alabama Women in Business Champion of the Year Award.
Morgan's award recognizes women who show promise in the small-business field. Applications are evaluated based on a substantiated history as an established business, growth in the number of employees, increase in sales and/or unit volume, improved financial position of the business, innovation of products or services, response to adversity and community involvement.
Morgan and her husband, Tim Morgan, started Morgan Research, a software and engineering services firm, in 1988, just weeks after they were married. Since then, the company has grown from just the two of them to more than 400 employees.
Plank's Champion award recognizes individuals who have fulfilled a commitment to advancing women's business ownership. Applications are evaluated based on the person's support of legislative or regulatory action designed to help small business, efforts to increase business and financial opportunities for women, and advocacy of the women-owned business community.
Plank was chosen because of her advocacy for women in business in North Alabama. She is a charter member and is involved with the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce's Women's Business Council, is involved with the Women's Economic Development Council and is the founding chair of the Women's Business Center of North Alabama.
She started SafeHealth, an occupational health and safety services company, in 1993.
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