Six Tennessee small businesses named SBA’s 2026 ‘National Small Business Week’ honorees
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Tennessee District Office has named six state-level winners ahead of its 2026 National Small Business Week, celebrated May 3–9.
The honorees span industries from custom woodworking and granite fabrication to vintage retail and media production, reflecting the diversity of Tennessee’s small business community.
“During National Small Business Week, SBA is honored to recognize the job creators, builders, and innovators who fuel our nation’s economy and anchor communities across America,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler.
Honorees
- Small Business Person of the Year: Steven Cassidy, EOD Gear (Franklin). Cassidy has used his experience as a former Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician to build one of the most visible companies in the EOD and tactical equipment sector with in-house manufacturing and AI-driven marketing.
- Small Manufacturer of the Year: Temel Islamoglu, Anatolia Granite and Marble (Baxter). Islamoglu is developing a state-of-the-art, AI-enabled manufacturing facility in Baxter anchored by zero-waste processes and a commitment to rural job creation.
- Rural Small Business of the Year: Josh Flory, Flory Custom Woodworking (Riceville). A former truck driver who taught himself woodworking in his basement, Flory has grown his custom shop into an eight-employee operation with a 4,000-square-foot facility on his property.
- Veteran Owned Small Business of the Year: Luke Dressman, Building and Repair Systems (Nashville). The West Point graduate and Army veteran founded his service-disabled veteran-owned construction firm in 2022, specializing in commercial renovations and tenant improvements across Middle Tennessee and Kentucky.
- Women Owned Small Business of the Year: Erin Sparks, Sparks Vintage (La Vergne). What started as a basement vintage rental operation has grown into a regional event and home staging company, with Sparks recently purchasing an 8,000-square-foot warehouse using an SBA 504 loan.
- Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Jason Thibodeaux, Millenium Media Label (Memphis). Thibodeaux launched his film and media production company in 2017 and is now converting a Memphis warehouse into a full-scale studio and creative hub aimed at keeping local storytellers from having to leave the city for opportunity.
Celebrations
Cassidy will represent Tennessee in attendance at the national awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on May 3. The SBA’s Tennessee District Office will then host a separate awards ceremony in Nashville on May 12 to celebrate all six honorees.
Congrats to these honorees!
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