Long Branch resident Marcia Blackwell (l) with Brenda Hopper, state director of the Small Business Development Center, at an awards ceremony Dec. 5. LONG BRANCH — Local entrepreneurs Marcia and Tom Blackwell were recognized last week with a New Jersey Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Success Award.

The Blackwells, who own and operate Blackwell's Organic Gelato, were among 13 companies honored with the award at a luncheon Dec. 5 at Forsgate Country Club.

"The Monmouth Ocean SBDC located at Brookdale Community College provided us with the initial encouragement and startup advice needed for beginning our business," said Marcia Blackwell. "They really should be sharing this award with us.

"When an entrepreneur approaches me for advice, I always recommend they contact their local SBDC before getting started," she added.

The annual Success Awards seek to honor the merits of diverse small-business leaders across the state.

"Recognizing the growth stories of our small-business clients is rewarding, not only to the clients who have success stories, but is testimony to the comprehensive services and expertise of the NJSBDC network in guiding small businesses' development and growth," said Brenda Hopper, New Jersey SBDC state director.

Each year, the 11 centers of the network that serve different regions of the state nominate their best candidates for awards, indicating their business growth accomplishments and how the individual SBDC center specifically helped them achieve their success.

"Even in this declining economic environment, our business experts and consultants around the state offer a complete guide and set of tools for businesses to overcome obstacles and barriers," Hopper said. "These guiding posts inevitably help sustain businesses, even in difficult economic times."

The recipients of the awards represent a variety of industries, among which is Blackwell's Organic, according to a press release.

Blackwell's Organic is New Jersey's first and only certified-organic dairy-free gelato and fruit sorbetto manufacturer. The company, headquartered in Red Bank, was started by Marcia and Tom Blackwell in 2005. Blackwell's Organic is dedicated to using ingredients that come from farmers and suppliers devoted to sustainable agriculture, resource conservation and Fair Trade.

The company has the only frozen dessert line with Fair Trade-certified ingredients in every flavor. The classic, healthful frozen desserts are handmade in the Italian tradition, using the highest-quality, certified-organic ingredients, including Fair Trade-certified T cocoa, chocolate, coffee and evaporated cane juice.

Blackwell's Organic is distributed in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. To learn more about Blackwell's Organic, their products and upcoming events, visit www.blackwellsorganic.com and www.gelatobymail.com.

Featured speaker at the event was Joel L. Naroff, president and founder of Naroff Economic Advisors, a strategic economic consulting firm. He advises companies across the country on the risks and opportunities that economic developments may have on the organization's operating environment.

On a consulting basis, Naroff serves as chief economist for T.D. Commerce Bank in Cherry Hill. He was recently named the nation's top economist by Bloomberg News and focused his remarks by answering the question: "Can small businesses drive New Jersey's economy out of the current recession?"

The NJSBDC network, composed of 11 centers across the state, is the premier provider of comprehensive services and programs for small businesses in New Jersey, helping businesses expand their operations, manage their growth or start new ventures.

Expert staff and practicing business consultants help established small-business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to develop business plans, find financing, identify new markets and expand their operations. The nonprofit network is a federal, state and educational partnership, which maximizes resources for the smallbusiness community.