SBA Celebrates Minnesota Small Business Person of the Year

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Minnesota District Office is celebrating Minnesota’s  Small Business Person of the Year along with additional honorees as it prepares for National Small Business Week, which will take place May 4-10, 2025. Along with awards ceremonies, the week will include a national small business roadshow with SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, a two-day virtual summit, community events and educational sessions about manufacturing, digital marketing, cybersecurity and cryptocurrency, as well as online business resources and renowned speakers. 

“SBA is pleased to recognize Beth Anne Benike as the 2025 Minnesota Small Business Person of the Year,” said Brian McDonald, SBA Minnesota District Director. “As an Army veteran, Beth leveraged SBA programs to grow her family business to deliver patented technology to help parents and is a great example of Minnesota’s strong entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

Army veteran Beth Anne Benike is the owner of Busy Baby, a family-owned business in Oronoco, Minnesota, that solved a universal parenting challenge: babies constantly dropping and throwing their items.  

Beth launched her placemat and tether system product in 2020 as a home-based startup that now operates in a 7,000-square-foot facility and employs five people. Busy Baby makes eight interchangeable products that are now available at major retailers. The company’s "stop-drop" patented technology has been used to develop products for not only babies, but also seniors and individuals with disabilities.  

To grow her business, Beth received two SBA Express loans and participated in the SBA THRIVE Emerging Leaders program. She also leveraged SBA resources, counseling and assistance, including programs such as U.S. Export Assistance Center, SCORE, Small Business Development Center, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, and Women’s Business Centers.  

As part of her commitment to strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Southeast Minnesota, Beth mentors 25 female entrepreneurs on their startup journeys.

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler will acknowledge Beth, who is in the running for the National Small Business Person of the Year and national runner up, on May 5, 2025, at the National Small Business Week kick off and awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

The SBA’s Minnesota District Office will have a local celebration for the state winner and additional local awardees who have empowered entrepreneurial success, created jobs and driven economic growth in the last year.

Details on National Small Business Week, the virtual summit, registrations and speakers are featured on www.sba.gov/NSBW and will be updated as additional information and activities are confirmed. Local events will be featured on www.sba.gov/events and identifiable by searching with #SmallBusinessWeek.