Woman Honored for Business Workshops

A Fairfax County economic development proponent was honored after developing workshops for small business owners.

Karen Smaw is the director of small, women, and minority business development at the Fairfax County Economic Development Office. The local branch of the U.S. Small Business Administration named her the Economic Development Partner of the Year.

She created the “Starting a Business” workshops in 2003, and since then almost 3,000 business owners have attended the session.

“It’s an honor to receive the award and the recognition,” Smaw said.

The SBA also noted that Smaw is one of the first African-American women to serve on the board of the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce. She also serves on the boards of the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Fairfax County-based Community Business Partnership and the University Life Advisory Board at Fairfax-based George Mason University.