Area glassmaker honored with statewide business award
Date: 05/25/2011
From the Valley Independent: As she handed Joe Santelli his Pennsylvania Small Business Person of the Year Award, Karen Mills told him, "Look, it's made of glass."
Receiving the award from the administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration was the highlight of last week for the Monessen-based businessman. And it showed how far he had come in the development and delivery of tempered glass.
Santelli, Pennsylvania's Small Business Person of the Year and a top five finalist for the national award, spent May 18-20 in the nation's capital.
"It was as much fun I've had as a small business owner," Santelli said. "It was top notch from the time I got there until the time I left," he added from his office, where stands a black and white placard that reads "Joseph Santelli, Monessen, Pennsylvania."
Santelli earned one of 15 "Champions of Change" in business awards. The previous week, the Champions of Change program honored top teachers nationwide.
On Thursday, in the West Wing of the White House, the Champions of Change met for two-and-a-half hours with Mills, who asked such questions as "What can the federal government do to help small businesses?" and "What issues affect small businesses?"
