04/21/2008
CONTACT: Tom Jones, 307-635-8524 or Tony Malandra, 415-664-9685
Trucking company owner and House Speaker Roy Cohee wins national honor for second year in a row
CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- It's a first for Wyoming and a second for State House Speaker Roy Cohee, 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 Wyoming House of Representatives Speaker Roy Cohee their Wyoming Small Business Champion of the Year.
It is the first time Solveras and NFIB named the same person twice, and it's Cohee's second time to be given the award. The honor was conferred upon Cohee by the Wyoming 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. Previous winners include Dale Kjack in 2006, Arthur Georgelas in 2005, Ray Fertig in 2004. Cohee is from Casper and the other three winners from Cheyenne.
"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 Wyoming," said NFIB/Wyoming State Director Tom Jones. "Our Leadership Council asked that question and didn't pause a minute before giving it to the obvious answer, even though he has won it before. Thanks to him, small businesses have a year of relief from any new tax or regulations, which will allow them to plan for business expansion and new hires. The Governor asked the Legislature for restraint this year, and Speaker Cohee delivered. In 30 years, I've never seen a Legislature return a budget to a Governor that wasn't higher than what the chief executive asked for. What he did was not only miraculous, but historic as well."
Cohee is owner of Casper-based C & Y Trucking. In addition to his membership in NFIB, he also is a member of the Wyoming Trucking Association and the Wyoming Business Alliance. For his community, Cohee is a member of the Casper Chamber of Commerce, the local Rotary and Elks clubs, and a member of the Cowboy Joe Club, the booster group for the University of Wyoming. Cohee is a graduate of Casper College, and he and his wife Barbara have two children and make their home in Casper. He has spent 10 years in the Wyoming House of Representatives, serving as majority leader before becoming Speaker. He also is vice chairman of the Management Audit Committee and a member of the Energy Council Committee. Cohee can be reached for further comment at 307-266-1667; Jones at 307-635-8524.
