The San Diego District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) April 17 named BPI Plumbing as their Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year and Michael Jason Ianni, president of M Bar C Construction, Inc., as the California Small Business Person of the Year. 

Serving San Diego County residential and commercial customers, Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year BPI Plumbing grew 73 percent in 2011 and ten-fold since 2006. In addition to being Green Plumbers USA certified, BPI Plumbing also supports the USO San Diego.

Alex Galicia, the majority owner of BPI Plumbing and Iraq veteran, serves on the board of directors for the ABC San Diego Chapter and the Elite Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Network. He also is the chairman of the Chula Vista, Calif., Veteran's Commission, a veteran's business consultant at the Small Business Development Center (Southwestern College) and an officer in the California Army National Guard.

Ianni started M Bar C Construction, Inc. in 2005, expanding it from the 30-year-old M Bar C Carports and turning it into a leader in solar carports and canopies. The family-owned and operated business started with two employees and now has more than 75 full-time, non-seasonal employees, with work completed in four states. Over the past three years, the company has grown by more than 550 percent. M Bar C Construction, Inc. is an ABC San Diego member.

Ianni and Galicia both will receive the awards during the Annual Small Business Awards Luncheon and Conference, sponsored by SBA and the North San Diego Small Business Development Center, June 12, at the Scottish Rite Event Center, in Mission Valley Calif. 

Read the full SBA press release and learn more about these prestigious honors here.