HONOLULU, Hawai‘i - The Senate today recognized the Small Business Administration Awards Hawai‘i recipients for their excellence in small business. The winners are both entrepreneurs and advocates and have proven that they have the creativity and drive to turn adversity into opportunity. This year’s recipients are Dr. Patrick Gesik, Terry Mullen, Maria A.F. Etrata, Reginald Baker, and Sherry Bracken. Also recognized on the Senate floor is Jane Sawyer, the Hawai‘i District Director for the Small Business Administration.
Dr. Patrick Gesik is the 2017 Small Business Administration Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Gesik Physical Therapy, established in 2013, provides orthopedic physical therapy through hands on manual therapy techniques. Dr. Gesik secured a Small Business Administration Express Loan in 2014 to expand the family business, and the business continues to grow through positive referrals from physicians and patient satisfaction.
The recipient of the 2017 Family Owned Small Business of the Year for the State of Hawai‘i is John Mullen & Company, a third generation kama‘aina company that operates as an insurance adjusting firm. Founded in 1959 by John and Margaret Mullen, Terry Mullen has worked in the family business for over 40 years, and currently serves as the president and CEO. His daughter, Sara, also works in the company undertaking managerial duties.
Maria A.F. Etrata is the winner of the 2017 Small Business Advocate for Minorities award. Etrata founded The Primary Care Providers of Hawai‘i in 1996 to create a network for the care home industry to provide information and education to its members, and to be a voice on legislation affecting care homes. Alongside her husband Renato, the couple established the philanthropic Renato and Maria A.F. Etrata Foundation to improve communities by supporting educational, cultural, and social programs for multiple cultures and faiths from around the world.
Reginald Baker is this year’s Small Business Advocate for Financial Services recipient. Baker has served as a director with the Chamber of Commerce, a leader of the Small Business Council, and has spent over 25 years promoting and assisting Hawai‘i’s small business owners through consulting, training, and other support.
Sherry Bracken is the 2017 Small Business Advocate for Journalism and Media for the State of Hawai‘i. Bracken writes, hosts, and produces a daily event program and a weekly interview program for two Hawai‘i Island stations. Bracken views her role in advocating for a healthy, robust economy by educating and informing the public to empower change.