Gardnerville businessman Gerry Bing has been recognized as Nevada's 2005 Small Business Champion of the Year for several decades of community involvement.
The national honor was conferred upon him by the Leadership Council of the Nevada chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business, America's largest small-business advocacy group.
Bing, 66, is owner of Bing Materials, a construction supply company based in the Gardnerville Ranchos, which he started in 1967.
He said the honor came as a total surprise.
"It was a big surprise," he said. "I didn't know anything about it until it was faxed to me last Friday."
In addition to helping fellow small-business owners through his work with NFIB, Bing has served five terms as president of the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce.
He also served three terms as president of the Carson Valley Homebuilders' Association and is a member of the Douglas County Building Industry Association, the Builders Association of Western Nevada and the Douglas County Business Council.
His other civic involvements include being a founding sponsor of the Summer Family Concert Series, a member of Homes of Our Own Program, the Community Builder, and Bob the Builder series. Bing is a graduate of Stanford University with a master's degree in civil engineering.
"Gerry Bing personifies the best qualities of the American small-business owner," said Randy Robison, NFIB/Nevada state director, in a report. "He lives and works in his own community, provides jobs for the people of his town, and gives selflessly of his time to a variety of organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life."
Each year, NFIB singles out a small-business owner in all 50 states for recognition and honors him or her with its Small Business Champion award. This is the second year the national group has awarded small-business owners who go the extra mile for mom-and-pop companies. Last year's winner was Scott Graham of Las Vegas.
The next step for Bing will be to compete with small business champions in 11 western states for a regional award.
The National Federation of Independent Business is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1943. NFIB represents the consensus views of its 600,000 members nationwide.
