August 28, 2026 at the Marriott Riverwalk

The Small Business Awards and Expo Luncheon celebrates the spirit of entrepreneurship that fuels San Antonio’s economy. This high-energy event features an interactive expo floor spotlighting local small businesses, followed by an inspiring awards program recognizing companies that exemplify resilience, growth, and community leadership. Designed to elevate visibility and create opportunity, the event connects business owners with potential clients, partners, and resources, reinforcing the Chamber’s commitment to small business success and regional prosperity.

2026 Nominees

community impact nominees

For non-profit organizations
For grassroots organizations or early-stage nonprofits demonstrating powerful impact with limited resources.

Arts in Play

Center for Health Empowerment in South Texas

Central Texas Growth Foundation

Emerge and Rise

Empower House SA

Evolution Career Center

Hope at Heart Foundation

Kind Clinic - San Antonio

Luminaria

Mavagi Enterprises

Moonstruck Foundation, Inc.

Opportunity Home Community Fund

Pre Futuro Insurance Agency

Radical Registrars

Ransomed Life

San Anto Cultural Arts

Soy Latina

The AM Project

The Gonzaba Foundation: For Healthier Communities
The Lemonade Circle

The Maestro Entrepreneur Center

Y’s Village

COMMUNITY ANCHOR NOMINEES

For non-profit organizations
For well-established organizations with a broad footprint, strong leadership, and a proven record of transformative impact.

ABC of Southwest Texas

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Blessed Angels Community Center

Brighton Center

ChildSafe

Communities In Schools of San Antonio

Community Council of South Central Texas

National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB)

Project MEND

SJRC Texas

THRU Project

Vibrant Works - formerly SA Lighthouse for the Blind

YOSA (Youth Orchestras of San Antonio)


STARS & STRIPES nominees

Honoring a veteran entrepreneur who has transformed their dedication to our country into successful business leadership with patriotic pride.

Booker's Tree Services

Burn Pits 360

G Partners & Realty

Groe Solutions

Kel-Lac Tactical + Outdoor

Line of Duty Custom Accessories

The Jerk Shack

RISING BUSINESS NOMINEES

A business in its early stages that demonstrates exceptional promise, innovation, and a solid foundation for long-term success.

A Timeless Soiree

ACE Plastic Surgery

Adelore Fashion Boutique

Brianna’s Boutique-The Flower Market

Castaneda Integrated Services

Coco Bliss

Hispaseguros

Learn2AI

Maid Right of New Braunfels

Mayflauer Events

Merlin Direct Primary Care

Novus Data Journeys

Que Retro Arts

Sweet Cheeks Bake Shop

Tenshi Health and Fitness

The Emotional Aid / Aware Games

Wild Pony Hat Bar

growth & innovation nominees

A small business that is scaling operations, increasing market share, and showing measurable growth while maintaining quality and culture.

Braincoach LLC

Casa Dulce

Hispaseguros

Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry

Pre Futuro Insurance Agency

Pride Floors & Construction

The Local SATX

MARKET LEADERSHIP NOMINEES

A 2nd stage teenage company that has overcome early-stage challenges and are now driving sustained innovation, job creation, and community/economic impact.

Garcia Event Centers

River City Produce

San Antonio Counseling and Behavioral Center

FAMILY LEGACY EXCELLENCE nominees

Pays tribute to a business whose enduring leadership and unwavering commitment have empowered entrepreneurs and shaped the success of our small business community.

Cafe Don Juan

Canco Construction LLC

Casa Dulce

Dixie Flag & Banner Company

Don Pedro's Mexican Restaurant

Garcia Event Centers

Gonzaba Medical Group

REMAX Unlimited

River City Steel & Recycling

Santana Group
Villanueva & Sons Fleet Services

RISING STAR NOMINEES

The Rising Star Award honors an emerging leader serving in an executive role, such as CEO, Executive Director, or senior-level decision-maker, who is making a measurable impact within their organization and the San Antonio community. This award recognizes early success in their role, recent achievements, demonstrated leadership, and a clear trajectory of influence, innovation, and continued growth.

Belia Torres, San Antonio Counseling and Behavioral Center

Gloria A. Martinez, Bexar County District Clerk

Chelsea Steele, ABC of Southwest Texas

Christine Banglay, Little Lemon Shots

Desiree Holmes, ABC of Southwest Texas

Dina Boley, Cavender Auto Group

Martha Zurita, JP Morgan Chase

Maurice Bridges, VIA Metropolitan Transit

Mildred Lopez, Hispaseguros

Nigel Fischer, Health 210

Richard Martinez, VIA Metropolitan Transit

Committee Co-Chairs

Erica Rodriguez

Owner of Cuba 1918 and The Colao Group

Erica Rodriguez is a community-led economic development expert, cultural entrepreneur, and micro-developer dedicated to creating pathways to prosperity in historically underserved and socio-economically disadvantaged communities.

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    As the owner of Cuba 1918 and The Colao Group, Erica leverages small business development, arts and culture, creative economies, and place-based investment as tools for community transformation. Through her work, she has helped activate commercial corridors, support entrepreneurs, create opportunities for artists and musicians, and strengthen the connection between economic growth and community identity.


    Over the past two decades, Erica has built a career spanning municipal economic development, nonprofit executive leadership, public policy, fundraising, healthcare and education initiatives, workforce development, food insecurity, and community revitalization. She has managed multimillion-dollar organizations, raised more than $40 million for nonprofit causes, collaborated with 84 school districts across South Texas, directly educated more than 40,000 students, and led local and national initiatives focused on community development, youth engagement, Latino advancement, and creative economic development.


    A recognized speaker and facilitator, Erica is known for challenging traditional deficit-based approaches to community development. Her work emphasizes asset-based strategies that recognize the strengths, culture, talent, and entrepreneurial spirit already present within communities. Whether revitalizing a historic commercial corridor, mentoring entrepreneurs, or advising civic leaders, she advocates for solutions that build ownership, dignity, economic mobility, and generational wealth.


    Born in Lubbock, Texas, and raised on San Antonio's South Side, Erica studied English at St. Mary’s University and Our Lady of the Lake University. She continues to champion initiatives that strengthen neighborhoods through collaboration, cultural preservation, entrepreneurship, and community-driven growth.

Arlene Siller

Founder and CEO of Ascend Nonprofit & Business Solutions®

Dr. Arlene Siller is the Founder and CEO of Ascend Nonprofit & Business Solutions® (Ascend NBS®), a national consulting firm specializing in full grant lifecycle management, organizational capacity building, and strategic funding development.

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    With more than 30 years of experience, she has helped nonprofits, government entities, schools, higher education institutions, and businesses strengthen operations, improve funding readiness, and secure competitive grant and funding opportunities.


    Since 2019, Ascend NBS® has supported clients in securing more than $188 million in awarded funding through a comprehensive approach that extends beyond grant writing. The firm provides strategic grant research, funding analysis, proposal development, compliance and post-award support, training, mentoring, and systems-focused consulting designed to help organizations build long-term sustainability and operational effectiveness.


    Dr. Siller is widely recognized for helping organizations move from reactive fundraising to strategic funding development by improving internal collaboration, program design, data alignment, and proposal readiness. Her work focuses heavily on capacity building and equipping organizations with the tools, processes, and leadership strategies necessary to compete for and manage funding successfully.


    She is also the founder of an AI-powered grant platform developed to modernize and simplify the grant development process through technology, collaboration, and readiness-based workflows. In addition to leading Ascend NBS®, Dr. Siller serves as a national trainer, speaker, consultant, and mentor, helping organizations and leaders strengthen funding strategies, improve sustainability, and create greater community impact.