The Enterprise for Innovative Geospatial Solutions is pleased to announce the selection of Craig Harvey as the 2006 Mississippi Small Business Person of the Year. Craig is the CIO and Executive Vice President of NVision Solutions, Inc., a member of Mississippi's Geospatial Technology Industry Cluster.
The U.S. Small Business Administration sponsors this award competition to recognize hard work, innovative ideas, and dedication to community that make small businesses the engine that drives the U.S. economy. One outstanding entrepreneur is named to represent each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam as State Small Business Persons of the Year.
"Craig is truly an innovator, a leader in his field, and an outstanding representative of the small business community," said Lisa Stone, Acting Director of the Enterprise for Innovative Geospatial Solutions, who nominated Craig for the award. "And to have the Small Business Person of the Year come from the geospatial industry speaks volumes about the economic impact of this industry sector in Mississippi."
NVision Solutions Inc. is a small, woman- and minority-owned firm specializing in advanced geospatial solutions. NVision facilitates remote sensing services and application development, GIS services, and database development and integration of these technologies through the use of Web-enabled interfaces. Headquartered at the NASA Stennis Space Center in south Mississippi, NVision is a services company focused on bringing innovative applications to the market place. Four years ago NVision Solutions was a start-up company. Today the company is an established leader in geospatial solutions -- providing answers from everything from natural disasters and homeland security response issues to knowing exactly when your child's bus will pick him up.
"I am honored by this award, but when it comes down to it this is really an award for the entire NVision team as well as all of those who have supported and believed in us since day one," said Craig Harvey, CIO of NVision Solutions. "This award also represents a culmination of all the efforts by Mississippi's leadership to bring high tech to the State of Mississippi through the active fostering and support of the geospatial industry cluster."
Since he helped found NVision Solutions nearly four years ago, Craig has built a thriving technology company without any venture capital and has grown the business from a 2-person, 100-square foot office to 3 regional offices and over 10 employees.
"Mr. Harvey is a dynamic leader who participates at every level of his company," said Thomas Stanley, Aerospace Technologist with NASA's Applied Sciences Directorate. "Craig has demonstrated outstanding talents in the administrative, managerial, and technical facets of NVision Solutions. He has a reputation as a superb manager of his employees and the contracts that are the lifeblood of his business."
Craig's ability to focus the creativity of those around him to solve old problems in new, innovative ways has made him and NVision a fixture in trade journals and the local media. "His loyalty to his staff, his customers, and his community is an example of the highest ideals of the small business community in Mississippi," said Brian Adam, director of the Hancock County Emergency Management Agency.
In its short history, NVision has received a number of accolades including the 2005 Mississippi Small Business Innovator of the Year award, ESRI's New Business Partner of the Year, and ESRI's Special Achievement GIS Award. NVision also received the Louisiana Governor's Technology Innovator of the Year Award in 2004 for a product successfully launched in Louisiana.
"One of the privileges of this job is being able to recognize small business owners and champions who exemplify the American Dream," said Janita R. Stewart, Mississippi District Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration. "Co-Founder, Chief Information Officer and Executive Vice President, Craig Harvey of NVision Solutions, Inc., our 2006 Small Business Person of the Year, clearly represents someone who truly exemplifies the innovation and strong determination that make small business the driving force of job creation in Mississippi and throughout our nation."
Representing Mississippi and NVision Solutions, Craig will be honored in Washington, D.C., in April during National Small Business Week.
<< Back to News Archive