This week, the Small Business Majority [6] (SBM), a national small business advocacy group, named Christin Evans of The Booksmith [7] in San Francisco and Kepler’s Books [8] in Menlo Park, California, the winner of a regional Small Business Advocate Award. This is the first year that SBM is presenting the award to small business owners in regions around the country for speaking up on issues such as healthcare and minimum wage.

Christin Evans (second from right) with Bradley Graham of Politics & Prose, Betsy Burton of The King's English, and Kris Kleindienst of Left Bank Books at the SBM Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C.

“It was a terrific surprise to learn about winning this award,” Evans told BTW via e-mail. “I’ve been very impressed with the advocacy of Small Business Majority and think they've done great work on the minimum wage, healthcare, access to capital and technology policy issues, which are mission critical for micro-entrepreneurs on up to multi-million dollar businesses. They do a great job bringing together a diverse group of business owners to discuss key policy issues at the state and national level.”

Evans received the award for her advocacy work, which included providing video testimonials on small business issues and traveling to Washington, D.C., to meet with other business leaders and policymakers as part of Small Business Majority’s annual Small Business Leadership Summit. [9]

“Small Business Majority works with small business owners across the country to help them get involved in the public policy process,” said Rhea Aguinaldo, Northern California outreach manager for Small Business Majority. “This year, we’re issuing our first annual Small Business Advocate Awards to recognize local leaders who have gone above and beyond in their role as advocates for the small business community. Christin Evans has been a powerful voice for small businesses on issues including healthcare and raising the minimum wage.”

Aguinaldo said it is imperative that lawmakers and media hear directly from small business owners about small business issues. “This award is about honoring small business owners who are dedicated to fighting for policies that keep small businesses thriving.”

Other small business owner advocates recognized by SBM with its 2015 awards are:

• Claudia Roblee, owner of ArtVentures in Michigan
• Michelle Tomallo, owner of Fit Technologies in Ohio
• Teagen Andrews, owner of Ecossential Solutions in Illinois
• Hipatia Lopez, owner of Empanada Fork in New Jersey
• Adam Rochon, owner of Sequoia Solutions in California
• Roberto and Alicia Ortiz, owners of Ortiz & Associates in California
• Tracy duCharme, owner of Color Me Mine in Colorado
• Keith Crawford, owner of Management Services FCIG LLC in Missouri 
• Lya Wesley Britt, owner of KBQ BBQ in Maryland