Greenville business owner is SBA Person of the Year

Furman “Eddie” Burgess, the owner of Diversified Systems Inc. in Greenville, has been named S.C. SBA Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

“It is with great honor that we select Mr. Burgess for this year's small business Person of the Year award,” Gregg White, district director for the South Carolina District Office, said in a news release. “Thanks to his small business, Mr. Burgess has created 60 jobs in the Greenville area. He is the perfect example of why small businesses are vital to the local economy. We congratulate him on this tremendous achievement.”

Founded in 1990, DSI designs, builds, delivers and installs customized and standard machinery all over the world. Burgess used two SBA-backed loan programs to expand his business, according to the news release. His most recent loan was through the 504 Loan Program, which was funded by the Appalachian Development Corp. and the Bank of Travelers Rest.

Burgess has been invited to attend ceremonies in Washington, D.C., scheduled for May 3-4, to receive his individual award. The SBA will announce the National Small Business Person of the Year at the same meeting.

In South Carolina, the 2020 Salute to Small Business Awards Luncheon and Procurement Matchmaker is scheduled for May 6 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.