Idaho Contractor Named SBA National Minority Small Business Person of the Year

The U.S. Small Business Administration chose Kaleo Nawahine of Performance Systems, Inc. of Idaho from a group of 10 regional winners

Kaleo Nawahine, a native Hawaiian and president of Performance Systems, Inc., an 8(a) and HUBZone-certified general contractor from Fruitland, Idaho, was named National Minority Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration during the National 8(a) Training, Business Matchmaking and Awards event at the Carnegie Library in Washington, D.C.

Some of Performance Systems' major contracts include projects at the Boise airport and construction of the West Boise Waste Water Treatment Plant. The company maintains offices in Washington and Hawaii with 78 employees. Performance Systems was chosen from a group of 10 regional winners representing Massachusetts, New York, West Virginia, Florida, Michigan, Louisiana, Missouri, California and Montana.

Also, Curt Koutelas, president and founder of Arrowhead Contracting, Inc. of Lenexa, Kan. received the 8(a) Graduate Firm of the Year award which recognizes 8(a) companies that have benefited from and exited the 8(a) program as intended by Congress and best exemplify the spirit and intent of the 8(a) program.

(Read more about the winners and the 8(a) program...)

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