FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 24, 2005
For more information contact:

Steve Elledge, Regional Director of the East Central Region
Wyoming Business Council
Office: 307.577.6012

Tom Lacock, Senior Marketing and Public Relation Specialist
Wyoming Business Council
Office: 307.777.2834

WBC’s Elledge named Financial Services Champion of the Year 2005

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration named Steve Elledge, the East Central Regional Director of the Wyoming Business Council, the Financial Services Champion of the Year for 2005.

This award is given to an individual that assists small businesses in obtaining financing, either directly or indirectly or through advocacy efforts to increase the availability of financial services.

"It is great to see the US Small Business Administration office in Wyoming recognize Steve as Financial Services Business Champion of the Year,” said Wyoming Business Council CEO Tucker Fagan. “Steve is one of the most knowledgeable people in the state when it comes to evaluating a business plan and what resources are available to help small businesses. His expertise in one of the reasons Wyoming's economy continues to grow.

Elledge, who received the award on May 6 at the Casper Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet, spent over 15 years in the oil business. Over 10 of those years were spent refining and another five in exploration and production. Since that time, he has also served as Director for the Casper College Center of the Wyoming Small Business Development Center network, as well as Vice President of the Casper Area Economic Development Alliance. He joined the Wyoming Business Council in July of 1999.

The mission of the Wyoming Business Council is to facilitate the economic growth of Wyoming. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.wyomingbusiness.org.

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