05/06/2004
Contact: Michelle Dimarob (202) 554-9000
The small-business group NFIB and Dell Inc., today announced that Nathan McKelvey of Quincy, Ma. has been chosen as a finalist in the Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence in Customer Experience Award. McKelvey is CEO of Charter Auction.com.
Charter Auction.com provides private air-travel services at competitive prices. It has been in business four years and employs 26 people. The business uses technology to improve their business/customer service program by helping customers bid on private jet travel trips and providing customers with safety reports on the operators, aircraft and pilots.
"Twenty years ago, as a small-business, we created a sales model that starts and ends with the customer. This approach has been the foundation of our growth," said Michael Dell, chairman and chief executive officer. "Today's finalists also understand the customer comes first and they have used technology to improve their services, products and performance. The Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence in Customer Experience Award recognizes the value these small businesses place on customer service and we congratulate them on this accomplishment."
"Main Street entrepreneurs take risks every day, but one thing they won't risk is delivering less than the best when it comes to customer service. The small businesses selected as finalists for the Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence in Customer Experience Award use technology to deliver a top-notch customer service experience," said NFIB President and CEO Jack Faris. "These men and women are the heart of America's economic engine and we applaud them for all they do each day to move our economy forward. NFIB is proud to honor them through this partnership with Dell."
The Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence in Customer Experience Award finalists were selected by members of the Herb Kelleher Center for Entrepreneurship at The University of Texas at Austin for their spirits of innovation. Small-business owners were challenged to illustrate how they have used information technology to drive a significant change and/or developed a competitive advantage in delivering superior customer value and experience.
The award winner will be announced on June 16, 2004, at the NFIB National Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C. The winner will receive $20,000 in technology from Dell; a "Day with Dell" program, including time with Michael Dell; a Lifetime NFIB membership; and other prizes. The remaining nine finalists will each receive a Dell Latitude notebook computer and a one-year membership to NFIB.
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is the nation's largest small-business advocacy group. A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1943, NFIB represents the consensus views of its 600,000 members in Washington and all 50 state capitals. For more information on NFIB visit www.NFIB.com. NFIB's 2004 National Small Business Summit will be held June 16-18 in Washington, D.C. More information is available online at www.NFIB.com/summit.
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) is a premier provider of products and services required for customers worldwide to build their information-technology and Internet infrastructures. Company revenue for the past four quarters totaled $39.7 billion. Dell, through its direct business model, designs, manufacturers and customizes products and services to customer requirements, and offers an extensive selection of software and peripherals. Information on Dell and its products can be obtained at www.dell.com.
