Small business partners honored in ORNL awards event

The Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory recognized its small business partners today at its virtual 2020 Small Business Awards. The annual event, delayed from its usual spring date because of the COVID-19 pandemic, honors the performance of small businesses that have made a positive impact on ORNL's operations.

"Small businesses are important contributors to ORNL's success, as well as being the cornerstone to ensuring the nation's economic security," said ORNL Director Thomas Zacharia. "Our small business partners have performed outstanding work, despite the challenges posed by a global pandemic."

The winning companies and their categories include:

• Fabrisonic, a Columbus, Ohio, manufacturer that specializes in 3D metal printing, won in the small business category. The company provides custom-designed equipment in support of ORNL research.
• JBrennon Construction Inc., based in Dalton, Georgia, won in the small disadvantaged business category. The company has successfully completed several construction projects for ORNL, on schedule and within a short time frame.
• Metalex Manufacturing, an advanced manufacturing company based in Cincinnati, Ohio, won in the veteran-owned small business category. Metalex, which specializes in high-precision machining, fabrication and mechanical assembly of close tolerance parts, is a key supplier of mission-critical components to ORNL and the Spallation Neutron Source.
• StGermain Heavy Industrial Projects LLC, a logistics management firm based in Humble, Texas, won in the women-owned small business category. The company provides logistics services for the U.S. ITER project.
• Sterling, a technology services provider based in North Sioux City, South Dakota, won in the small disadvantaged/women-owned small business category. According to technical staff, Sterling provides exceptional customer service on their ORNL projects, as their staff travel from South Dakota to Oak Ridge to ensure the lab's needs are met.
• XCEL Engineering Inc., an Oak Ridge engineering, consulting, and project management firm, won in the service-disabled veteran-owned small business category. XCEL has provided highly skilled personnel to conduct mission-critical support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The ORNL Small Business Advocate of the Year is Angie Calloway, an express buyer in ORNL's Rapid Purchase Support group. Her supervisors said Calloway goes above and beyond to encourage her ORNL customers to utilize small businesses for their purchases.