SBA Names Sandra A. Abalos Woman Entrepreneur Of The Year; Local CPA Named United States Small Business Administration's 2005 Woman Entrepreneur Of The Year

Business Wire, May 4, 2005

PHOENIX -- The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) has named Sandra A. Abalos, Managing Partner at Abalos & Associates, the 2005 recipient of the organization's Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Abalos will be recognized at the Twelfth Annual Enterprise Conference and Luncheon Awards Presentation scheduled for Wednesday, May 4th from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm at the Phoenix Civic Plaza. The Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award honors a woman who owns and operates her own small business, demonstrates staying power, and contributes to the Arizona community. In 1997, Abalos received an SBA loan, which assisted her in purchasing her office building. The firm's growth in net worth over the last three years has been 97%. In 2003, Abalos was named the agency's Small Business Person of the Year in Arizona.

"I am honored to be chosen for this prestigious award and am humbled by this recognition. I continue to be awed by the enormous contribution that women business owners can make toward the development and welfare of our community. I am proud to play my small part in this effort," said Abalos.

About U.S. Small Business Administration:

The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) is the nation's largest single financial backer of small businesses. This small, independent federal agency of the United States government, established in 1953 by the Small Business Act, has a portfolio of business loans, loan guarantees, and venture capital instruments worth more than $45 billion - in addition to a disaster loan portfolio of $5 billion. The organization's mission is to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, preserve free competitive enterprise, and maintain and strengthen the overall economy of the nation. For more information, please call 1-800-U-ASK-SBA or visit the website at www.sba.gov.

About Abalos & Associates, P.C.:

Abalos & Associates, P.C. is a full service CPA firm specializing in the small and mid-size business - with expertise in the fields of financials, tax planning, profit enhancement, consulting, technology consulting, nonprofits, and life planning services. For more information, contact 602-943-1984 or visit the website at www.Abaloscpa.com.