The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 2018 Maryland Small Business Person of the Year is Tamara Beideman, owner of Sweet Elizabeth Jane in Ellicott City. Founded in 2011, Sweet Elizabeth Jane offers home décor, apparel, accessories and gifts.

Like many others, Beideman was faced with the aftermath of 2016’s “thousand-year storm” that dropped six inches of rain in Historic Ellicott City in 90 minutes, whisking away merchandise, fixtures and even her cash register. That beating would have put most entrepreneurs on the ropes, but not Beideman; with the help of SBA disaster recovery loans and other services, she rallied, rebuilt and came back better than ever.

“Tammy’s perseverance and resourcefulness following the disaster are inspiring,” Baltimore District Director Steve Umberger said. “She’s survived the worst and come back with record-breaking sales and is putting more Marylanders back to work.”
Beideman and the area’s other local winners include the following.

Small Business Person
Tammy Beideman
Sweet Elizabeth Jane
8289 Main Street
Ellicott City, MD 21043

Minority-Owned Small Business
Louben Repke
Repke Fitness
8268 Veterans Highway, Suite 3
Millersville, MD 21108

Family-Owned Small Business
Whitney & Scott Kerridge
Admiral Cleaners
10 Taylor Avenue
Annapolis, MD 21401

Attorney Advocate
Paul Skalny
Davis, Agnor, Rapaport & Skalny
10211 Wincopin Circle, Suite 600
Columbia, MD 21044

Financial Services Champion
Andrew Hines
The Bank of Glen Burnie
101 Crain Highway, S.E.
Glen Burnie, MD 21061

Insurance Advocate
Mike Thomas
Lighthouse Insurance Services
1119 MD Rte. 3 North
Gambrills, MD 21054

Rising Star Student Entrepreneur
McKenzie & Gigi Crafton
Bracket Ears
10380 Old Columbia Road, Suite 102
Columbia, MD 21046

Veteran-Owned Small Business
Gordon Mumpower, Jr.
Commercial Insurance Managers
8170 Lark Brown Road, Suite 102
Elkridge, MD 21075