Celebrating the 2026 Small Business Award Winners

As small businesses across the country celebrated their achievements during National Small Business Week, leaders in Connecticut shared a common message—growth doesn’t happen alone. 

Award winners shared different stories with a shared formula for success at the May 6 National Small Business Week SBA Awards and Expo, hosted by CBIA and the SBA Connecticut Districit Office.

After 20 years working in aerospace manufacturing, Yoganandan Tharanibalan purchased Corru-Seals because he believes in Connecticut’s growing ecosystem.

Now called Novel Aero, the company expanded into more than 10 countries this year, earning the company Exporter of the Year.

Tharanibalan said his company slogan, “inspire and innovate,” reflects his belief in continuous improvement, which he admits is challenging for employees who have not experienced it before.

“My team took upon the challenge, and they learned, adapted, and embraced change,” Tharanibalan said. “While I’m receiving this award, hands down, full credit goes to my team at Novel Aero.”

Leaning In

Manufacturer of the Year Doug Johnson of Marion Manufacturing shared the same people-first philosophy.

Johnson has spent years modernizing the 80-year-old company, while rebuilding its workforce.

Faced with an aging employee base, Johnson leaned into apprenticeships, partnerships, and long-term talent development—an investment that is now paying off.

“I just gave them a platform to perform, and they come to work, and they do it every day.”

Marion Manufacturing’s Doug Johnson

Reflecting on the recognition, he reinforced that leadership alone isn’t what builds a business.

“I didn’t win it,” Johnson said.

“They won it. I just gave them a platform to perform, and they come to work, and they do it every day.”

Growth Requires Grit

While Tharanibalan and Johnson spoke about scaling their teams and teaching them to adapt, honorees also highlighted the grit required to survive and grow.

Microenterprise of the Year winner Troy Anthony traced his journey from sewing garments while working a full-time job, to building a multi-service business.

His path included financial setbacks, personal sacrifices, and moments of uncertainty, but when the opportunity appeared, he said he knew he had to take a risk.

“There is definitely going to come a time where you’ve got to bet on yourself and bet on yourself big,” Anthony said.

“That was my time. I was definitely prepared and ready and had the business plan and went after it, but it was definitely a hard time to try to figure it out.”

Resilience Through Uncertainty

Resilience is what shaped the work of Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year winner Paul Mayer.

He said his career in human resources and military service informs his approach to leadership.

Through The Schegg Group, Mayer helps individuals navigate job loss and career transitions—moments he described as some of the most difficult in a person’s life.

“We help people in transition, and we’re glad to be able to be there to assist folks when they need help in a very dark time in their life,” Mayer said.

“We help people in transition, and we’re glad to be able to be there to assist folks when they need help in a very dark time.”

The Schegg Group’s Paul Mayer

Like Mayer, Connecticut Small Businessperson of the Year Derek Ezovski’s company helps behind the scenes.

Outsourced Risk Management Solutions is a national service provider that plays an important in giving entrepreneurs access to capital.

Ezovski reflected on the uncertainty that comes with building a business and the persistence required to push through it.

“We’ve worked through ups and downs. We’ve had some days we weren’t sure,” Ezovski said.

Build with Purpose

For younger entrepreneurs, the challenge is less about rebuilding and more about proving a concept, believing in that concept, and scaling quickly.

TJ Noel-Sullivan, the 25-year-old founder of The Hartford Film Company and Young Entrepreneur of the Year, has done just that.

Noel-Sullivan left a secure and good-paying job in the film industry in California to build a business in his hometown of Hartford.

He knew there was a market and had purpose, growing his team quickly and successfully doubled his business revenue in consecutive years.

“As a young entrepreneur, figuring a lot of stuff out, I think that having a team that not only brings their own expertise and their own guidance, but also is understanding that sometimes you are going to make mistakes, and that’s how you grow as a team, has been hugely beneficial,” Noel-Sullivan said.

In addition to running his business, Noel-Sullivan spends time supporting young filmmakers in the area realize their potential.

Community Impact

Building a community around a business is often a large step, especially for a brick and mortar.

For Woman-Owned Small Business of the year Megan Searfoss, community is what encouraged her to start CT Run Co., which encompasses three running stores across Fairfield County.

CT Run Co. blends retail with outreach, creating an inclusive environment.

Searfoss framed success not just in terms of growth, but in the standard of service delivered every day.

“Mediocrity is never an option. We don’t live in that space,” Searfoss said.

“We live in best in class service, and we service everybody that walks in our door, and that is what is truly going to keep us a brick and mortar for many years to come.”