The Small Business Administration has named Vaughn Vasconcellos, president and CEO of Akimeka LLC, as its 2009 Small Business Person of the Year for Hawai'i.

Akimeka has offices on Maui and O'ahu, and provides technology services to the Department of Defense and other government agencies.

A product of SBA's Business Development Program, Akimeka has grown under Vasconcellos' leadership, creating more than 160 jobs and generating millions of dollars in annual revenues.

Vasconcellos will represent Hawai'i in the competition for the national title during National Small Business Week (May 17 to 22), in Washington, D.C., with winners from the other 49 states, Guam and Puerto Rico.

Other small-business winners in each county in the statewide competition:

• O'ahu: Shelley J. Wilson, founder, president and CEO of Wilson Homecare, took the city and county's top award for her fast-growing company.

• Big Island: Dr. John Stover, president of Hilo Oral and Facial Surgery and its statewide network of offices.

• Kaua'i: Valerie Parker, president and CEO of The Parker Group, providing comprehensive project management and technical services to DOD contractors.

• Maui: Max Tsai, president and owner of TC Kokua, a customer call center for Hawai'i and Mainland organizations.

Two of Hawai'i's top-performing small businesses and advocates also were awarded regional titles in competition with other winners from California, Arizona and Nevada. The Region IX winners also enter the national competition in their respective categories:

• Michael Fairall, of Mokulua Woodworking, was named SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Hawai'i and Region IX.

• Naomi Hazelton-Giambrone, of Pacific Edge magazine, garnered the state and Region IX title as top Small Business Journalist.

There were an additional nine categories in which the SBA recognized small businesses for their accomplishments. A complete list of the winners is available at: www.sba.gov/localresources/district/hi/news/index.html.

All winners will be honored at the 22nd Annual Statewide SBA Small Business Awards Luncheon on April 24 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.