Owner of Great Lakes Truck Driving School Named 2010 Small Business Person of the Year

Trucking Down the Road

Doris Young, Owner and School Director of Great Lakes Truck Driving School, Inc. of Columbia Station, Ohio, has been named the 2010 Small Business Person of the Year by the Cleveland District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

"Ms. Young and her company exemplify the critical role that small businesses play in growing our economy through the creation of jobs," said Gil Goldberg, District Director of SBA's Cleveland District Office. "It is with great pride that we offer our congratulations to Ms. Young on this well-deserved honor."

Mr. Goldberg noted that nominees for this award are judged on several criteria, including growth in number of employees; increase in sales and/or unit volume; strong current and past financial reports; innovativeness of product or service offered; response to adversity; and contributions by nominee to aid community-oriented projects.

Great Lakes Truck Driving School became licensed by the Ohio Department of Public Safety on July 1, 2008 to begin operation as a truck driving school. The first class started in July, 2008 with 3 students. At the end of the first academic year, June, 2009, Great Lakes Truck Driving School had enrolled 287 students, provided contract training for 11 area companies, and generated significant tuition revenues.

The school began operation with just its founders Doris and Jim Young, Doris' son Roger Rollins, and two employees. Within the first 14 months of operation, the school added 35 employees and placed over 70% of graduates into the workforce.

Start-up was partially funded by a SBA 504 loan obtained trough Growth Capital Corporation and an SBA guaranteed 7(a) loan through Wayne Savings Community Bank.

Every year since 1963, the President has proclaimed National Small Business Week to recognize the contributions of small businesses to the economic well-being of America. Each year, the U.S. Small Business Administration recognizes this special impact made by outstanding small business owners, and by champions of America's entrepreneurs.

In 2010, National Small Business Week will honor the estimated 27.2 million small businesses in America. Small businesses are major contributors to the strength of the American economy. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business.. They also create 60-80 percernt of new jobs in the country. Small businesses drive innovation, create 21st century jobs and increase U.S. competitiveness.