The Small Business Administration has named Steven Baldridge, president of Baldridge and Associates Structural Engineering, as its Small Business Person of the Year for Hawai'i.

The Chicago native leads a successful firm that attracts young engineers and develops new opportunities for growth globally, according to a news release from the SBA.

An expert in collapse prevention and disaster response, Baldridge donates time and resources to mitigate the impact of future disasters. He was involved in relief work in Haiti.

Baldridge will represent Hawai'i in the competition for the national title, which will be announced during National Small Business Week from May 23 to 29, in Washington, D.C.

He is one of 28 business owners, advocates and business leaders who will be honored at the 23rd annual Statewide SBA Small Business Awards Luncheon on April 30 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

The SBA also selected top small business owners to represent each county in the state:

• Honolulu: Garrett Sullivan, chief executive officer of Kaikor Construction Co. Inc.

• Big Island: Dr. Alfred Mina and partners Richard and Vicki Boening of East Hawaii Veterinary Center.

• Kaua'i: partners Henry Lewis and Terrence Mann of Lewis & Mann Plastering and Drywall.

• Maui: Brad Albert and Matias Besasso, co-owners of Rising Sun LLC.

Awards also were given in other categories:

FAMILY-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS

• Statewide: Kerry Honda of Pine Isle Market Ltd. in Lāna'i City.

• Maui: Bill and Maureen Marrs, Marmac Inc., better known as Ace Hardware in Kahului on Maui.

• Big Island: Mitchell Dodo, Dodo Mortuary Inc. and Crematory.

• Honolulu: Dale Nishikawa, chief executive officer of Marcus & Associates

SMALL BUSINESS EXPORTER

• Statewide: David Erdman, president and chief executive officer of PR Tech.

• Honolulu: Kevin Kraft, president and owner of Tradewinds Global.

FINANCIAL SERVICES CHAMPION

• Statewide: Leslie Mullens, president and chief strategist, Playbook Consulting Group in Kīhei.

• Kaua'i: Gwen Duarte, president of Duarte Data Systems Inc.

• Big Island: Nina Hasler, owner of Fiscal Fitness LLC in Kailu, Kona.

• Honolulu: Bernice Parsons, vice president, Montpac.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS CHAMPION AWARD

• Statewide: Cherylle Morrow, Hawaii Women's Business Center.

• Honolulu: Chenoa Farnsworth, Farnsworth Consulting and Kohala Ventures.

• Big Island: Kawehi Inaba, president and owner of Kupa'a Business Planners.

MINORITY SMALL BUSINESS CHAMPION

• Statewide: Derek Kurisu, executive vice president of the Mountain Apple Brand of KTA Superstores based in Hilo.

• Honolulu: Joy Barua, director of Finance for Honolulu Community Action Program.

• Kaua'i: Beth Tokioka, Office of the Mayor and creator of the "Made in Kauai" program.

HOME-BASED BUSINESS

• Statewide: Brent Norris, co-founder and director of Green Collar Technologies based in Mountain View on the Big Island.

• Honolulu: Lou Darnell, ComTel, in Kāne'ohe.

• Kaua'i: Bob and Louisa Wooton and Family, Kauai Kunana Dairy and Family Farm in Kīlauea.

VETERAN SMALL BUSINESS CHAMPION'S AWARD

• Statewide, Rojelio Herrerra, Jr. and James C. Lewis, of ComCon Technologies Inc.

• Honolulu: Caroline Kim, Honolulu director of the Hawaii Small Business Development Center Network.

Additionally Il Chul Kang, president of Sunset Chevron in Hale'iwa, was given the Entrepreneurial Success Award; and Edgar Justus IV, owner of Talk Story Bookstore in Hanapēpē, was given the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.