MS Small Business Association honors Mary Jennifer Russell

MS Small Business Person of the Year

New Albany business owner Mary Jennifer Russell was honored in New Albany Thursday evening May 4th, as the 2017 MS Small Business Administration (SBA) Small Business Person of the Year.

M.J. Russell, Sugaree's founder

Mary Jennifer Russell, MS Small Business Person of the Year

Russell is the president and founder of Sugaree’s Bakery, a “small batch” bakery located in downtown New Albany. She started the business in her home 20 years ago in 1997 and has grown it into an enterprise employing 35 people. Sugaree’s produces 1,000 cakes every week, which are sold locally and throughout the United States via the Internet and telephone orders.

Sugaree’s has been featured in articles in the New York Times, Huffington Post, Oprah Magazine and Southern Living magazine.

Russell was recognized as Mississippi Small Business Person of the year in an SBA ceremony early this year in Washington, D.C. She is a New Albany native and lives in the city with her husband, attorney Regan Russell, and their children.

Mary Jennifer Russell is very active in local civic affairs. Among the many local projects she has spearheaded are the Annual Farm to Market Dinner and the Biscuits and Jam Farmers’ Market, which is held in downtown New Albany every Saturday during spring and summer months.

Many local individuals, representatives of U. S. Senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker, Representatives of First District U. S. Congressman Trent Kelly, and numerous SBA personnel attended the Small Business Week ceremony. More than 100 people turned out on a cold rainy night for the event at New Albany’s Magnolia Civic Center.

For more about Mary Jennifer Russell’s civic service to New Albany

 

2017 SBA MISSISSIPPI SMALL BUSINESS AWARD WINNERS

Generational Family-Owned                                               

Keith Delcambre

Bozo’s Grocery

Pascagoula, MS

 

Young Entrepreneur

Latrice Rogers

Goddess Lengths Virgin Hair Bar

Jackson, MS

 

Financial Services Champion                                              

Vickie Rivers

Renaissance Community Loan Fund

Gulfport, MS

 

Minority Small Business Champion

Louis J. Finkle, PhD

Gaston Point Community Development Corporation

Gulfport, MS

 

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