Daniel Fine Chosen Washington State SmallMay 11, 1999 07:07 PM
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 11, 1999--Daniel Fine, president and CEO of fine.com International Corp. FDOT in Seattle, Wash., has been named 1999 Washington State Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
The firm provides strategic Internet consulting and development services that assist Global 1000 clients in maximizing the Internet to further their corporate goals and objectives.
Fine is among 53 top small business persons -- one from each state, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam -- who will be honored by the SBA at national ceremonies in Washington, DC, May 24 -- 28. As the winner of the Washington State Small Business Person of the Year Award, Fine could be named National Small Business Person of the Year during the national event.
Gretchen Sorensen, SBA Regional Administrator, will present the state award to Fine today at the company offices in Seattle, at a ceremony with Mayor Paul Schell of Seattle, other dignitaries, clients of the company, and employees of fine.com.
Sorensen congratulated Fine saying: "fine.com is a company that is well positioned for enormous growth and success in the 21st Century. They have combined an understanding of the power of the Internet with an appreciation for the technological tools that companies need to compete in the global economy."
Fine.com International was founded in 1994 by Dan Fine to plan, develop, and maintain interactive Web sites for mid- to large-size companies. Anticipating a new direction for the Internet, fine.com has focused its efforts to help companies compete in the global digital marketplace by offering integrated communication strategies and development services that help companies market and brand online.
Fine.com completed an initial public offering of 1.1 million shares in August 1997. The company raised $6.4 million for expansion. At the time, fine.com had 27 employees and a single office. Now, the firm has acquired four companies, doubled its employee base, and added several new blue chip clients to its portfolio. Headquartered in Seattle, fine.com has offices in New Jersey and Maryland. Clients include General Electric Company, NASDAQ-Amex Stock Market, AMWAY Corporation, Marriott International, Inc., Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., and Mitsui and Co. Ltd. of Japan.
When asked to comment on this award, Fine stated: "For the accomplishments of fine.com to be recognized by such a prestigious award is indeed a proud moment for me and for my employees. I am particularly pleased because it is an award that impresses my wife. When we started, I delivered pizzas in the evening to feed our family. Today, we are a thriving small business. Better than anything else, this award is confirmation for my wife that we are successful."
Fine went on to say: "This is not about luck or rocket science. It is about seeing where you want to go, figuring out how to get there, writing it down, and not taking no for an answer."
In keeping with the spirit of community, Fine heads up the company's involvement in Seattle-King County Crime Stoppers, and the Progressive Animal Welfare Society. A creative idea spearheaded by Fine is the interactive website, directdonation.org, which helps families raise money for medical expenses not covered by insurance for children with cancer.
Small Business Week is designated each year to honor the nation's small business owners. Selection criteria for national winners include stability, growth in employment and sales, sound financial reports, innovation, response to adversity, and community service.
The SBA was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to help small businesses get started, stay in business, and grow. The agency provides financial, management, and government contracting assistance to small firms nationwide. In the Pacific Northwest, the SBA's five district offices have a portfolio of business loans, loan guarantees and disaster loans totaling almost $2 billion. |
