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WASHINGTON -- Lani Hay, president and CEO of Lanmark Technology (LMT), Inc., was awarded the 2007 National Minority Small Business Person of the Year Award by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The award was presented at its annual National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) conference held here on September 13-14.

“I am honored to receive this award because its very existence represents the progress our nation has made in helping minority enterprises to grow,” said Ms. Hay.

She added: “Lanmark Technology’s success is evidence that diversity can survive and thrive in the U.S. economy. My mission is to honor our nation’s diversity and bring about social change with integrity and grace.”

The achievements of minority entrepreneurs and business leaders like Ms. Hay were recognized by the SBA and the Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency at this conference, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Last year, SBA awarded LMT as the “Minority-owned Business of the Year.”

            Headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, Lanmark Technology is an SBA 8(a) certified, Woman-owned, Service-Disabled Veteran-owned, Small Disadvantaged Business providing a full range of Information Technology Services, Telecommunications Solutions, Program Management Oversight, and Administrative Support to clients in the federal government and commercial sectors.

Under Hay’s leadership, LMT has evolved from a one-woman consulting firm to a multi-million dollar technology enterprise. LMT provides services and systems for clients such as federal agencies, state and city government offices, small businesses and Fortune 500 companies.

Ms. Hay and LMT have been featured in The New York Times, BusinessWeek, and the Washington Post.  Among her awards this year are: “Top Diversity Businesses in the United States” Diversity Business; “Woman to Watch” Business Women’s Network (BWN); “Businesswoman of the Year” Office Depot (2007) “Top 25 Most Powerful Minority Women in Business” Minority Enterprise Executive (MEE) Council.

In related news, the Asian American Business Roundtable (AABR) has announced the selection of Ms. Lani Hay as the first National Chair of the Coalition of Asian Pacific American Businesses & Organizations (CAPABO).

Ms. Hay will handle issues and concerns of the Asian Pacific American community. These include family reunification, healthcare benefits, and providing job opportunities to veterans in federal and state contracting. CAPABO covers the whole country. Ms. Hay is a Vietnamese American (her mother is Vietnamese).

Remarked AABR president Rawlein G. Soberano: “I’ve known Lani ever since she was in high school. She has an excellent combination of what it takes to succeed in today’s federal procurement market, the private sector, and the global economy.” He cited her patriotism, sterling military service, strong sense of fair play, competitiveness, gender pride, and community involvement.

About Lani

Ms. Hay holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from the U.S. Naval Academy. She has a Master of Business Administration degree from the College of William and Mary's Mason School of Business, and a Master’s Certificate in Government Contracting from George Washington University. She has also completed continuing education courses at Hawaii Pacific University, Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, Esalen Institute and Integral Institute.

            Before forming LMT, Ms. Hay served as a U.S. Naval Intelligence Officer. As an Air Intelligence Officer (AIO) for a Patrol Reconnaissance Squadron in Kaneohe, Hawaii, she analyzed, assembled and disseminated intelligence information for squadron aircrews and carrier air groups by providing operational assessments and briefings on time critical subjects.

Ms. Hay spearheaded, researched, and evaluated new exploitation techniques providing advanced development support for state-of-the-art prototype reconnaissance equipment.

As an aircrew member who earned her Observer Wings, Ms. Hay logged more than 200 hours of special flight time supporting sensitive reconnaissance missions on board the U.S. Navy's P-3 Orion. She’s an acknowledged expert on patrol reconnaissance operations and overhead collection assets. She is also a recognized tactical intelligence expert in European, Middle Eastern, and Far Eastern military operations.

Ms. Hay provided in-theatre operational and tactical support of Operation Desert Fox and Operation Southern Watch. She also provided direct support of operational and tactical units during Operation Noble Anvil, the American Component of Operation Allied Force (the Kosovo War).

Ms. Hay concluded her operational tour as an AIO in support of several reconnaissance missions in the Asian/Pacific Region. Additionally, Ms. Hay has served as a Force Protection/Anti-terrorism Officer, Top Secret Control Officer, Security Manager, Foreign Attaché Liaison Officer for the Chief of Naval Operations, and as the Deputy Director for Training Development at the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center, Damneck, Virginia.

Ms. Hay has many civic activities. She founded One Voice Hawaii, a Hawaii state nonprofit organization serving the Native Hawaiian community, and the Hay-Smith Foundation, a 501c(3) nonprofit organization organized to support the education and empowerment of underserved individuals in the U.S. and abroad. She also mentors inner city youth, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, military veterans, and military academy students through established mentoring programs.