An entrepreneur supported by a WSU small business development initiative has been named the 2010 Exporter of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Leonard Felix, president and owner of CID Bio-Science, Inc., headquartered in the Vancouver area, was recognized for increased sales, profits and/or growth of employment because of exporting, creative overseas marketing strategies, effective solutions to export-related problems, and demonstrated encouragement of other small businesses to become exporters.
Felix left his corporate job in 2007 to seek the help of the Washington Small Business Development Center to acquire a business that would leverage his expertise in product engineering. With the aid of the SBDC, he became the president and sole owner of CID Bio-Science in less than three years.
The SBDC has continued to aid Felix in growing his business by nearly $1 million in sales, adding four jobs, solidifying existing relationships, and expanding into several countries.
CID has designed, manufactured and sold scientific Instruments to plant physiology researchers worldwide for 18 years. The instruments are designed to meet the unique challenges that researchers face in the field; they are highly accurate while being light and compact, making them easy to transport.
The Washington SBDC promotes economic vitality within communities by providing expert business advising, demand-driven training, and applied research to existing businesses and entrepreneurs. It is a cooperative effort of WSU, other educational institutions, economic development organizations and the U.S. Small Business Administration.