State honors AWC Small Business Development Center
Arizona Western College Small Business Development Center, led by Randy Nelson, has been named the 2011 Small Business Development Center of the Year for the state of Arizona.
The award from the U.S. Small Business Administration is for excellence in providing value to small businesses and advancing program delivery and management through innovation.
The award will be presented on May 5 during the Arizona Small Business Week 2011 at the 18th annual Enterprise Business awards luncheon in Phoenix.
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Al Krieger has sold his metal building construction company, AKC, to Eckard Commercial Construction. Krieger, mayor of the city of Yuma, said he sold the business he started 14 years ago — “706 payrolls” — because it was getting harder to compete as a niche contractor and the sale to Eckard will provide new opportunities for both companies.
AKC will be maintained as a separate division of Eckard Commercial Construction, said owner Troy Eckard. Krieger and his son will continue to work for the company.
Eckard said obtaining AKC will enable him to expand his business into the erection of metal buildings both as a contractor and a subcontrator.
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The Cocopah Indian Tribe's newest enterprise, the Cocopah Native Eatery, has opened its doors to provide another late afternoon and evening food choice for patrons at the Cocopah Resort and Conference Center and Cocopah Casino.
The Cocopah Native Eatery is located in the breezeway between the Cocopah resort and the casino at the intersection of County 15th and Highway 95. Service is from 4 to 11 p.m. daily. For more information, call 217-1001.
Native fare, soups and salads will be added to the menu in the near future, said Cheryl Bradstreet, director of communications.
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Desert Veterinary Clinic has lost one veterinarian but gained another, reported Dr. Cheryl Haugo.
Dr. Sujithra Gurushav, who had practiced in India before joining the Yuma clinic in October, has left the practice to return to India because her family was not happy here.
However, Dr. Kira MacKinnon has returned to the clinic after a couple of years of doing emergency work in the Phoenix area and working briefly at Chaparral in Yuma.
While the search continues for additional doctors to become a 24-hour clinic, Desert Veterinary Clinic remains available for emergencies and is seeing patients by appointment seven days a week. The clinic can be reached at 783-5010.
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Vianey Galvan has joined the benefits team of Yuma Investment Group Wealth Management, 182 E. 16th St., and will be working with business owners on their risk management.
Galvan was raised in Yuma, is a graduate of Arizona Western College and has been in the insurance industry for seven years. Call 329-1700 to schedule a free consultation with her.
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Longtime State Farm Insurance agent Howard Blitz has been honored by the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce as the April Member of the Month.
A graduate of the University of Arizona School of Business with an MBA, he has been an agent with State Farm since 1976 and has garnered numerous honors for his achievements.
He also is the founder of The Freedom Library and is a professor of economics and constitutional studies.
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Beginning this coming weekend, the Arizona Market Place, 3351 S. Avenue 4E, will be open Friday and Saturday evenings from 5 to 10 p.m. for approximately eight weeks, depending on the heat. Admission is free for vendors and shoppers.
Also, the first weekend in May, the swap meet will start a new and used auto parts for sale, trade or exchange during the Summer Nights Market. For more information, call 314-4014.
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Yuma Office Equipment, 340 S. Main St., has enhanced its business to include a full IT department offering service on any network, computers and servers with a full-line help desk. For more information or assistance, call 343-2298.
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It's fresh strawberry time again at local grower Ramon Rodriquez' stand at the corner of Avenue C and 40th Street. The stand has locally grown strawberries as well as asparagus, zucchini, lemons and oranges for sale.
It is open from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.
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To clarify just where a person can pick their own artichokes now and okra in the near future, Sally Nakasawa's farm is off U.S. Highway 95 (known as 16th Street inside the city limits) headed north toward Yuma Proving Ground. Call 344-8114 for directions and hours for U-pick times.
Report Comings and Goings to jlobeck@yumasun.com or call Joyce Lobeck at 539-6853.
Comings
and Goings
Joyce Lobeck
