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

Akimeka has offices on Maui and Oahu 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 Hawaii in the competition for the National title at the celebration of National Small Business Week from May 17-22, 2009, in Washington, D.C. with winners from the other 49 states, Guam and Puerto Rico.

Other top small business represented their counties in the statewide competition:

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

• Hawaii County, Dr. John Stover, president of Hilo Oral and Facial Surgery and it's statewide network of offices, was chosen as the county's 2009 Small Business Person.

• Kauai's Small Business Person of the Year is Valerie Parker, president and CEO of The Parker Group, providing comprehensive project management and technical services to DOD contractors.

• Maui's 2009 Small Business Person of the Year was Max Tsai, president and owner of TC Kokua, a customer call center for Hawaii and Mainland organizations.

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

• Michael Fairall, Mokulua Woodworking, was named "SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year" for Hawaii and Region IX.

• Naomi Hazelton-Giambrone, Pacific Edge Magazine, garnered the State and Region IX title as the Small Business Journalist.

There were an additional nine categories in which the SBA recognized small businesses for their accomplishments.

All winners will be honored at the 22nd Annual Statewide SBA Small Business Awards Luncheon on April 24, 2009, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.