04/21/2008
CONTACT: Tony Gagliardi, 303-831-6099 or Tony Malandra, 415-664-9685
Told a woman wouldn't make it in her business, Gail Lindley captures high honor for the second time
DENVER, Colo. -- It's a first for Colorado and a second for Gail Lindley, as 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, today named Lindley the Solveras/NFIB Small Business Champion of the Year. It is the first time Solveras and NFIB named the same person twice, and it's Lindley's second time to be given the award. She is owner of the Denver Bookbinding Company.
The honor was conferred upon Lindley by the Colorado 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. Last year's winner was Mark Hamouz. In 2006, it went to Walt Curtner. In 2005, Jim Noon won it, and in 2004 Lindley.
"We do not hand this award out for any other reason but for who has been doing the most to help small businesses in the state of Colorado," said NFIB/Colorado State Director Tony Gagliardi. "Our Leadership Council asked that question and didn't pause a minute before giving it to the obvious answer, even though she had won it before. Gail Lindley has provided expert testimony on small business issues, been a media spokesperson on entrepreneurial matters, mentored new NFIB members, hosted member meetings for us, and has been a regular contributor to our political action committee."
Lindley has been an NFIB member for 30 years and been on its Colorado Leadership Council for 20 years. For her community, Lindley is a member of her neighborhood association, the Denver Optimists Club, and is a fully commissioned reserve police officer for the City of Denver.
Lindley is a great American success story. When her grandmother and mother took over the Denver Bookbinding Company after the death of her grandfather in 1972, the purchasing agent for the University of Colorado at Boulder huffed that "a female-owned business would never make it" and promptly yanked the school's contract from them. Not only has Lindley's company made it, but it is also the only commercial bookbinding firm left standing in Colorado and surrounding states. Furthermore, Lindley is laying the groundwork to pass the torch to a fourth and fifth generation of family members. Begun in 1929, Denver Bookbinding specializes in binding books and magazines in runs from one to 1,000. Their business can range from binding five books of photographs for hobbyists and professionals to re-binding vintage Bibles, including one six centuries old.
