Mind Your Business

SBTDC Client Mind Your Business Selected as 2011 SBA North Carolina Small Business Person of the Year 

www.mybinc.com

Congratulations to Karen Caruso, owner of Mind Your Business, Inc., the 2010 SBA Small Business of the Year for North Carolina. Karen, who was featured in the SBTDC’s 2009 Annual Report, is an excellent example of a thriving entrepreneur and exemplifies the strong small business community in our state.

Mind Your Business, a participant in the Biz Boost Initiative program established by Governor Perdue, has seen a 50% increase in staff since 2007, largely due to their success landing government contracts at the state and federal level. Throughout the company’s 14-year history, innovation and responsiveness to customer needs have resulted in new services and provided opportunities with underserved markets.

Mind Your Business has created propriety software programs for fleet and visitor management which assist their customers in meeting increased security requirements from the Department of Transportation and Homeland Security. Last year, the company expanded its services to include on-site drug screening based on customer demand for better integration of their pre-employment screening requirements. Karen’s leadership, innovation and utilization of resources such as the SBTDC have resulted in significant business growth despite the economic downturn.

Karen will be honored in Washington, D.C., along with the other state winners and compete for the national Small Business Person of the Year award. The winners are scheduled to meet President Obama at a White House reception. She was nominated for the award by Annice Brown, Business Counselor, and Clark Fields, PTAC Counselor, of the SBTDC’s Asheville office for the company’s growth, innovation and strength.

Mind Your Business continues to work with the SBTDC’s Western Carolina University office for management counseling, government procurement assistance, MBA student assistance, and strategic planning support.

Story originally featured in the SBTDC's 2010-11 Annual Report.