Marketing leader Drahota named Iowa's top small-business owner

By DONNELLE ELLER
REGISTER BUSINESS WRITER

March 10, 2007

Becki Drahota's work to found and build her financial marketing company in Storm Lake earned her this year's honor as Iowa's leading small-business owner, the U.S. Small Business Administration in Iowa said Friday.

Drahota, president of Mills Financial Marketing, began her business 32 years ago and retains the company's first customer. The company provides market research, strategic planning, brand development and other services in the financial services industry. The company's average annual revenue is $1.44 million.

Other Iowans recognized include:

Family-owned champion for Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska: Mary Connell, president of Air Control Inc., learned the steel fabrication business from her father, who started the company in 1956. Mary Connell has built the company's sales from about $1 million to $8 million, adding new clients, products and services. She co-owns Air Control with her brother and brother-in-law.

Journalist: Christina Erb, reporter for the Corridor Business Journal in Iowa City, "not only informs the small business community of issues important to them," the agency said, "but also helps to increase public understanding" of small businesses and their contributions.

Minority champion: Benjamin Banowetz is senior program manager of the Minority Enterprise Construction Council in Des Moines. The council, part of the State Public Policy Group, provides free education and training to minorities who want to start or strengthen their construction businesses. It has helped 39 individuals since May 2005.

Veterans champion: Patti Lind, executive director of the Abilities Fund in Centerville, is nationally recognized for helping people with disabilities develop small businesses.

Drahota, representing Iowa, will compete in April to be named national small-business person of the year.