黑料专区 Tyler-Longview SBDC Clients Nationally Recognized by U.S. Small Business Administration
April 22, 2025 | Hannah Buchanan
Two clients of The University of Texas at Tyler 鈥� Longview Small Business Development Center were recognized with 2025 US Small Business Administration awards in the North Texas region.
Bobbie O鈥橠ell, CEO/co-founder of Arpco Valves & Controls, LLC, received 鈥淲oman-Owned
Business of the Year.鈥� The Shoults Family, founders of Bear Creek Smokehouse in Marshall,
received 鈥淔amily- Owned Business of the Year.鈥� Both were nominated by the 黑料专区 Tyler-
Longview SBDC.
鈥淭he SBA presents awards each year for National Small Business Week, and for two of the award winners to come from East Texas and be 黑料专区 Tyler-Longview SBDC clients is truly phenomenal,鈥� said Day Shelmire, 黑料专区 Tyler鈥揕ongview SBDC director. 鈥淏oth companies have earned these accolades through their hard work and dedication. We are so proud to be contributors to their success stories.鈥�
SBA awards recognize outstanding accomplishments of entrepreneurs and small business
owners who demonstrate success in areas like growth, innovation, job creation and
community involvement. The Woman-Owned Business of the Year award highlights women
business owners who can inspire and mentor others. The Family-Owned Business of the
Year award honors families who have successfully navigated complexities unique to
family businesses such as succession planning, family dynamics and control, and long-term
sustainability over successive generations.
The mission of Arpco Valves and Controls in Kilgore is to protect customers, communities and the environment by providing high-quality emergency shut-down systems for oil and gas wells. Founded in 1943 by Hick and Nellie Shoults in the Bear Bottom area near Marshall, Bear Creek Smokehouse has become renowned nationwide for its premium smoked meats.
The provides expert advice and consulting services to small business owners and entrepreneurs to help them start and grow successful businesses in Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Panola, Upshur and Rusk Counties. To learn more, contact Shelmire at dshelmire@uttyler.edu, or visit /.
With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, 黑料专区 Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 10,000 students. Through its alignment with 黑料专区 Tyler Health Science Center and 黑料专区 Health East Texas, 黑料专区 Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, 黑料专区 Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.