04/21/2008
CONTAT: Riley Johnson, 406-443-3797 or Tony Malandra, 415-664-9685
Loren Davis started in his garage and is now largest individually owned copier/printer dealer in Montana
HELENA, Mont. -- In the 40th year of his enterprise, Loren Davis was today named the Solveras/NFIB Small Business Champion of the Year by America's leading small business association, the National Federation of Independent Business, and Solveras, one of the nation's leading payment processing companies for small businesses.
The honor was conferred upon Davis by the Montana Leadership Council of NFIB. Each year, NFIB and Solveras single out a small business owner in all 50 states for special recognition and honor him or her with their prestigious Solveras/NFIB Small Business Champion of the Year award. This is the fifth year the national group has recognized small business owners who go the extra mile for their fellow entrepreneurs and the first year Solveras has joined in. In 2006, the award went to Roger Koopman of Bozeman. Jeff Essmann of Billings won it in 2005 and Gene Meier of Lewiston in 2004. There was no 2007 winner.
"For more than 18 years, Loren Davis has been the go-to guy on small business issues in legislative hearings, so highly regarded is he by Montana policymakers," said Riley Johnson, NFIB/Montana state director. "He is one of our top aces and has represented NFIB/Montana at numerous events and meetings. Small business owners could not have a better advocate for them."
Loren Davis started out as a one-man operation on Jan. 1, 1968, selling calculators, typewriters and other business machines out of his garage. On Sept. 1 that year, he hired his first employee, a technician who is still with the company as a branch manager. Today, Davis Business Machines Inc. has 30 full-time employees with branches in Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls and Helena. The company's product line has also expanded to include almost any equipment an office needs to operate.
"I sold my first electronic calculator in Montana when they were as big as a TV set," said Davis. "I had my setbacks, but always found a way to turn them into a plus. It is the quality of your people that makes you successful. No matter what the industry, we are in the people business. My employees know that I will always back their decisions as long as it is in the best interest of our customers. We have the statement in our purchase agreements that 'it either works to specification or it walks.' "
Among its many recognitions, Davis Business Machines, which is the largest individually owned and operated copier/printer dealer in Montana, qualified for its first Honor Council trip with the Minolta Corporation (now Konica Minolta) in 1983 and subsequently earned that distinction 23 more years. Davis credits his early involvements in the Junior Chamber of Commerce (for acquainting him with other business owners) and in Toast Masters (for helping him overcome his shyness) as some of the foundationally pillars of his success. Loren Davis can be reached for further comment at 406-442-9810.
