May 19, 2004
04-33
Media Contact: Dawn Dearden 703 767-6310
dawn.dearden@dla.mil

Fort Belvoir, Va. - As part of the Defense Logistics Agency's annual celebration of Small Business Week held May 18-20, the DLA Small Business Awards Program recognized selected DLA employees May 18 for their outstanding contribution and support to the Agency's small business programs.

"These awards encourage outstanding and extraordinary performance of DLA personnel in implementing the national and DLA policy to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business, small disadvantaged business and women-owned small business," said Pat Cleveland of the DLA Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Office.

DLA Director Vice Adm. Keith Lippert recognized the performance of these selected individuals and offices at an official awards ceremony held at the McNamara Headquarters Complex.

"What I enjoy best about this job is that I get the chance to recognize people who have done outstanding work within the Agency," Lippert said. This week we get to recognize the great work in our small business program. I am especially pleased to be able to personally commend each of our award recipients.

"We have supported our troops in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom," Lippert continued. "We have provided them with the supplies they need to fight the war on terrorism. With their [awardees] foresight and dedication, our awardees not only benefited small businesses, but they proved themselves to be responsible stewards of our taxpayer dollars."
In fiscal year 2003 alone, DLA awarded $7.1 billion to small businesses, more than 41 percent of its contract dollars, surpassing the Department of Defense-set goal of 38 percent.

In his concluding statements, Lippert stressed, "We don't provide the spare parts or provide the contracting services; it’s our industrial base that does it. Small business partners have provided these supplies and services that we ship to our customers in an extraordinary manner. They've done it by being on time and providing their service anywhere. It's your accomplishments that have enabled this to happen."

Award recipients include:
• Richard C. Rosanelli, small business specialist, Defense Supply Center Richmond, Va.
• Defense Supply Center Richmond Commander, Rear Adm. Michael Lyden, and his staff for outstanding support of the DLA small business program
• Members of the Directorate of Business Operations, Industrial Machinery Branch, Defense Supply Center Richmond
• Ann Reiter, contract specialist, Clothing and Textiles Directorate, Defense Supply Center Philadelphia
• Jacqueline Pelullo, contracting officer, Directorate of Clothing and Textiles, Defense Supply Center Philadelphia

As the DSCR Small Business Specialist, Rosanelli was awarded the 2003 DLA Award for Professionalism in the Small Business Program for providing outstanding support and significant contributions to the DLA small business program. Rosanelli was responsible for the implementation of DSCR's Small Business Improvement Plan initiatives. In addition to performing his routine duties as a small business specialist, Rosanelli was responsible for the implementation of the small business market baskets, service-disabled veteran-owned small business outreach, and the Small Business Bulletin Board.

The Directorate of Business Operations, Industrial Machinery Branch, DSCR, was selected as the recipient of the 2003 DLA Award for Excellence in Assisting Small Business. The Industrial Machinery Branch has completed a feat no others at DSCR have accomplished. Through their willingness to support small business and the ability to embrace new ideas, this small team has had a significant impact on DSCR's goals for small business as well as women-owned small business, HUB zone small disadvantaged business and Section 8(a) small business concerns.
Army Lt. Col. Peter Altavilla, a contract specialist with DSCP, accepted the award for Reiter who could not attend the ceremony. Reiter, who is also a contract specialist with DSCP's Clothing and Textiles Directorate, received the 2003 DLA Award for Excellence in Assisting Small Disadvantaged Business. Reiter is recognized for her exceptional performance while serving as a contract specialist on the Battle Dress Uniform Team in the Clothing and Textiles Directorate. Her actions resulted in the expedited development of small disadvantaged business under the Section 8(a) Program while providing improved quality of service to the DLA customer. Her actions exemplify her work ethic and the type of work she performs on a regular basis.

Pelullo, a contracting officer with DSCP's Clothing and Textiles Directorate, is the recipient of the 2003 DLA Award for Excellence in Assisting Women-Owned Small Business. Pelullo has overseen unprecedented sales growth and worked with small business manufacturers to ensure accelerated deliveries in support of America's current war effort. Pelullo's deep concern for the impact of government procurement on socio-economic programs is shown through her daily performance and the awarding of a contract for $4.5 million to a HUB zone women-owned small business.

DLA Director of SADBU Tom Ray concluded saying, "The individuals who have been recognized here today have shown that it is not just necessary to do a good job, they have stretched themselves to meet the challenges of the new millennium. We appreciate their efforts and we applaud their accomplishments."

DLA provides supply support, and technical and logistics services to the military services and to several civilian agencies. Headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Va., DLA is the one source for nearly every consumable item, whether for combat readiness, emergency preparedness or day-to-day operations.

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