Jerry H. Rover (center), president of The Rovner Group of Allentown, receives his U.S. Small Administration 2006 New Jersey Small Business Veteran Champion of the Year Award from the Small Business Administration New Jersey’s Director James A. Kocsi (r) and Associate Deputy Administrator Michael W. Hager. ALLENTOWN – A borough businessman has received recognition for his continuing support of veterans.
Jerry H. Rovner, president of The Rovner Group, a business consulting company in Allentown, has been named the recipient of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) New Jersey 2006 Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year Award, according to an SBA press release.
In the press release, SBA New Jersey District Director James A. Kocsi said Rovner was selected for the award based on his commitment to advancing small-business opportunities for armed forces veterans.
“Through the years, Jerry Rovner has provided an extraordinary amount of pro bono services to veterans to help them with their companies,” Kocsi said in the press release. “The SBA recognizes and applauds these voluntary efforts to help veterans reach their entrepreneurial goals.”
Rovner was recalled to active military service as a result of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. When he returned from duty, he saw how difficult it was to regain equitable employment or restart an existing business, according to the release.
Over the last three years, Rovner has helped dozens of veterans re-establish businesses that they ran successfully before being called to active duty, according to the press release.
Rovner has also assisted veterans in starting new businesses based on the skills they learned in the service, according to the press release.
In addition, he serves as a consultant to The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) Small Business Development Center (Trenton Business and Technology Center) in Trenton, and has been designated the veteran representative of the center, according to the release.
Rovner was nominated for his award by Lorraine Allen, who is the regional director of TCNJ’s Small Business Development Center, according to the press release.
Besides winning the state award, Rovner also won SBA’s Regional Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year Award for Region II, according to the press release.
For the regional title, Rovner competed with Veteran Small Business Champions from New York State, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The distinction allowed him to compete for SBA’s National Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year Award, according to the press release.
The national award went to Andrew Davis, chairman and co-founder of Comfort for Courage in Minneapolis, and was presented to him during National Small Business Week ceremonies held April 9-15 in Washington, D.C., the press release said.
“National Small Business Week recognizes the hard work, ingenuity and complete dedication of our entrepreneurs and champions,” SBA Region II Administrator William M. Manger said in the release. “I am proud of the New Jersey District Office winners for their personal achievements and their contributions to the American economy.”
Rovner received his award on April 28 at the SBA’s New Jersey Small Business Week annual awards luncheon held at the Hyatt Regency hotel in New Brunswick. Sponsored by the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, the luncheon celebrated National Small Business Week, according to the press release.