06/06/2005
CONTACT: Riley Johnson, (406) 443-3797 or Tony Malandra, (415) 664-9685
National honor goes to Billings businessman Jeff Essmann
MONTANA -- Billings businessman and State Senator Jeff Essmann is Montana's 2005 "Small-Business Champion" of the year, it was announced today.
The national honor was conferred upon him by the Leadership Council of the National Federation of Independent Business/Montana, part of America's largest small-business advocacy group. Each year, NFIB singles out a small-business owner in all 50 states for special recognition and honors him or her with its prestigious "Small-Business Champion" award. This is the second year the national group has recognized small-business owners who go the extra mile for Main Street, mom-and-pop companies. Last year's winner was Gene Meier of Lewistown.
Essmann is owner of Valet Today Cleaners in Billings. He will compete with Small-Business Champions in 11 western states for a regional award.
"Jeff Essmann embodies all the qualities that make small-business owners the pillars of their communities and the engine of the American economy," said Riley Johnson, NFIB/Montana state director. "When he leaves work, he doesn't run home to the couch, but instead gives selflessly of himself advancing the small-business agenda in his hometown and in the Montana legislature."
Essmann has been an NFIB member since 1984. He is a founding member of the group's Leadership Council and served as its chairman for six years. Essmann also sits on NFIB/Montana's PAC board. When NFIB established Area Action Councils four years ago, Essmann wasted no time in helping to get the Billings AAC up and running. He was appointed to the Senate from Yellowstone County to serve in the just-completed 2005 session of the Montana legislature.
He can be reached for further comment at (406) 591-1101.
