As editor of Craig Bovaird, president of Lancaster, Mass.-based Built-Rite Tool & Die Inc. and its Reliance Engineering division, has been picked as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2007 Massachusetts Small Business Person of the Year, which is the state SBA’s top award.
The honor is presented annually to a small business person or persons "who exemplify excellence in entrepreneurship," according to a news release from the SBA. There are seven criteria: staying power, growth in number of employees, increase in sales/and or unit volume, current and past financial reports, innovativeness of product or service, response to adversity, and evidence of contributions to community-oriented projects.
The news release indicates that success in the face of adversity was a big part of Bovaird's appeal
The most impressive part of building this company is that Mr. Bovaird did it when the plastic molding industry was in a major decline and many plastics’ companies were closing their doors,” said SBA District Director [Maurice] Dubé. “Mr. Bovaird is to be commended for increasing revenues and creating manufacturing jobs in Massachusetts and for having the wisdom to seek out the SBDC’s assistance.
Built-Rite Tool & Die does component and mold design and toolmaking. Reliance Engineering is the company's custom molding division, which serves aerospace, medical, defense and electronics customers.
The Worcester, Mass., Telegram has a write-up and photo of Bovaird on its Web site today. There's also a nice feature on the company on the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network's Web site.