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From Medicine to Marketing, Timber to Tutoring, Entrepreneurs
Better Serve Customers Through Innovative Use of Technology
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130 Finalists Worldwide Compete to Win $50,000 in Dell Technology,
Consulting Time with Michael Dell
The News:
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Dell
and the National
Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the leading
small-business association in the United States, today announced the
10 U.S. finalists for the Sixth Annual Dell/NFIB Small
Business Excellence Award.
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Founded in 2004 by Dell and the NFIB, the award recognizes companies
using technology to better serve customers and grow. Just as Michael
Dell did 25 years ago in starting his own small business, award
honorees understand that listening and delivering on behalf of
customers is instrumental to business success. Today, the award has
expanded to 13 countries worldwide, honored more than 370 companies,
and is an important source of inspiration given today’s global
economic crisis.
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Selected by MBA students at George
Washington University School of Business from a record 3,000
applications, U.S. finalists receive a Dell business-class laptop,
one-year NFIB membership, and go on to compete for the national award.
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Announced in September, the national winner will receive consulting
time with Michael Dell, $25,000 in Dell technology, and a life-time
membership to NFIB. Honored for breaking the mold with its use of
technology in the traditionally low-tech motor-home industry, last
year’s U.S. winner, Transport
Designs, attributes much of its success and growth to
understanding technology and how it can garner customer trust and, in
turn, a competitive advantage.
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Once named, 13 national winners selected from each participating
country including Australia,
Brazil,
Canada,
China,
France,
Germany,
India,
Italy,
Japan,
Mexico,
Spain,
United
Kingdom and the United
States will be considered for the 2009 global Dell Small Business
Excellence Award. Worth $50,000 in Dell technology and services and
benefits from global partners International
Council for Small Business and Endeavor,
the global winner will be announced in fall 2009. 2008 global winner Wiggly
Wigglers, a rural, England-based natural gardening company, was
awarded for its innovation and leadership in social media. Using tools
like Facebook, podcasting and blogging, Wiggly Wigglers has grown to
serve 90,000 customers worldwide while cutting their advertising
budget by 80 percent.
This year’s U.S. finalists represent diverse industries, size and
revenues, ranging from medical practices to an online forensic training
company, from one employee to 55, and revenues from a breakeven start-up
to $15M. The U.S.
