2009 Minority Small Business Person of the Year Award
U.S. Small Business Administration
SBA San Antonio District Office
District Director: Pamela Sapia

The SBA San Antonio District Office is pleased to announce the District's 2009 Minority Small Business Person of the Year, Mary Ellen Trevino, P3S Corporation. Not only is Ms. Trevino representing the district's fifty five county area - she is also SBA's Region VI winner representing five states; Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Louisiana. Ms. Trevino competed for the 2009 National Minority Small Business Person of Year with nine other SBA regional winners from Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, South Carolina, Minnesota, Missouri, Colorado, California, and Idaho.
P3S Corporation specializes in Information Technology, Homeland Security Services, Program Management and Financial Management Services. In business since 2005, P3S Corporation is located in San Antonio Texas with offices in Georgia, Ohio and Florida .

Casias Construction LLC was established on December 18, 2003 by Domingo R. Casias with the assistance of his son Frank D. Casias. After retiring from Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, with 29 years of civilian service and 3 years active service in the Army, Domingo R. Casias started Casias Construction. In October 2006, Frank D. Casias, a University of Texas at Austin graduate, who was with Browning Construction Co. joined his father's company on a full time basis. With 25 years of construction experience, Frank D. Casias brought his knowledge and commitment to the small, but successful and fast growing firm. Casias Construction LLC is certified HUB by the State of Texas, SBE/MBE/DBE certified by South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency and is MBE certified by the Central and South Texas Minority Business Council. It is also an SBA 8(a), HUBZone, and DBE certified firm.

When Jade Chang left her corporate job at Dell Inc. five years ago and decided to start her own asphalt company at age 26, the big suppliers in San Antonio wouldn't give her the time of day. On a recommendation, Chang went to a meeting of the Hispanic Contractors Association (HCA) of San Antonio Inc. There she met the vice chair of the association, who was an asphalt plant owner.

"He extended me my first credit," Chang, owner of American Asphalt, says. "And since then I've met so many people and gotten so much work from this organization."

Tejas Premier Building Contractor, Inc. is a full service building contractor based in San Antonio, Texas specializing in office buildings, industrial, healthcare, and life science facilities from new construction to remodeling. President Julissa Carielo started the company in August 2006, after a career in construction and finance. The company's on-going construction management team is knowledgeable, experienced and has been involved with construction projects ranging from $100,000 to $14,000,000.

Frost has been and continues to be a partner with small businesses in all the communities they serve. Whether it is providing loan opportunities; conducting seminars on different areas of need for small businesses such as fraud; participating in small business fairs as presenters and booth hosts; or funding non-profits that also provide assistance to the small and minority business community, Frost works help businesses grow and succeed.

Hector E. Garcia is a certified public accountant that has been working with small businesses throughout Texas for nearly 30 years.

As an active member in the Southwest Minority Supply Development Council, Garcia has helped other businesses build strategies to help them compete for commercial, non-profit and government grant programs.

Walter A. Rodriguez and Jose Mauricio Breton met in 10th grade at Robert E. Lee High School. Walter was a native of San Antonio and Mauricio was originally from Mexico City but had spent most his life in Laredo. After various jobs Walter and Mauricio ended up working as mechanics on food service equipment for HEB Grocers. Eventually they moved up into facility management, managing general equipment maintenance, HVAC and restaurant equipment for several HEB stores around South Texas.

"Caring For People by People Who Care" exemplifies the philosophy of AQTS Home Health. Since inception in 1994, AQTS has been a leader in health care in the San Antonio community, providing quality nursing, home health and therapy services. AQTS believes in giving back to the community and in serving those in under privileged areas, often providing services at low to no cost.

A native of Texas, Della Guidry knows first hand the true meaning of southern hospitality. And, as President and Owner of one of Texas’ most sought-after destination management companies, southern hospitality is the key to her success. For the past eight years, Guidry and her staff at PRA Destination Management San Antonio have served an array of clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies to hometown businesses. With a combined industry experience of over 40 years, PRA San Antonio offers detailed destination management programs ranging from logistics and event planning to team building activities and transportation.

Edward Todd had spent 29 years working as an automotive mechanic, and finally in his 30th year it pays off when he bought his own Meineke Franchise.
Mr. Todd had worked for Meineke as a manager of the Perrin-Beitel Store from 1993 to 2001, when he moved to a location at 1632 Pat Booker in Universal city to become General Manager of that store.

Foster Quan, LLP, a minority owned business certified by the National Minority Business Council, was launched in January 2009. With 56 attorneys and more than 130 professional staff, Foster Quan is the 2nd largest immigration law firm in the U.S. and the largest minority owned immigration law firm in the world. Foster Quan provides immigration legal services to Fortune 1000 companies, government agencies, colleges and universities as well as individuals.