Tulsan Wins National Small Biz Award

Larry Mocha has been named one of four U.S. regional Solveras/NFIB Small Business Champions for 2009. He was named the Oklahoma state small business champion in September.

Each year, the National Federation of Independent Business, the nation’s leading small business association, selects a small business owner in each state for special recognition and honors him or her with the prestigious state Small Business Champion award. The regional honors are chosen by each region’s state directors and public policy directors.

This is the first time Mocha has received the regional award. He was previously honored as state champion in 2005 and 2008.

“We’re thrilled that Larry is being recognized for everything he does for small business,” said Benny Vanatta, state director of NFIB/Oklahoma. “NFIB is the voice of small business in Oklahoma City and Washington, but we couldn’t be heard without the support of members like Larry.”

 Mocha, a 12-year member of NFIB and president of APSCO Inc. of Tulsa, serves on the NFIB Leadership Council, which advises the association on issues affecting small businesses. He has hosted numerous NFIB events and contributed to the NFIB political action committee, the Save America’s Free Enterprise (SAFE) Trust.

 He is a former chairman of the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce and a former member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce board of directors. He served as Region IV Chairman of the U.S. Small Business Administration Regulatory Fairness Board in 1999-2000.

Mocha also chairs the Tulsa Mayor’s Initiative for Small Businesses and the Center for Legislative Excellence.