2023
Maria Mendez
Marlowe Stoudamire Small Business Champion
Jerome Brown and Sam VanBuren, Detroit Soul
Salute Award
Lydia Michael, Blended Collective
Salute Award
Achsha Jones, TripSlip
Salute Award
Salute Awards Wall of Fame: A List of Past Winners
TechTown Detroit’s Salute Awards are presented at Toast of the Town, our annual fundraiser celebrating Detroit’s entrepreneurs and the role we play in creating a truly equitable economy.
The names of the awards may have changed, but the intention has always been the same: to recognize individuals, businesses and community builders for their embodiment of the entrepreneurial spirit and leveraging the many resources found at TechTown and across Detroit’s small business community.
Take a journey with us through the years to see the incredible Salute Award winners honored at Toast of the Town.
2022
Chanell Scott Contreras
Marlowe Stoudamire Small Business Champion
Maribel Martinez, Mangonadas del Barrio
Salute Award
M. Kay Willingham, Art in Motion
Salute Award
Keith Young, Sr., Ecotek Lab
Salute Award
Candice Fortman, Outlier Media
People’s Choice Salute Award
2021
Carla Walker-Miller
Marlowe Stoudamire Small Business Champion
Javier Evelyn, Alerje
Salute Award
Juan Carlos Dueweke-Pérez, Featherstone
Salute Award
Raquel Ramirez de Lozano, El Popo Market
Salute Award
Robin Wright King and Dr. Ali Bazzi, Urban Docz
People’s Choice Salute Award
2020
Pam Lewis
Marlowe Stoudamire Small Business Champion
Darryl Humes and DeKoven Humes, Mature
TechTown on Tap Salute Award
Danielle Smith Parker, Detroit Maid
TechTown on Tap Salute Award
2019
Suzanne Shank
Entrepreneur of the Year
Invest Detroit
Small Business Champion
Sean Carroll and Ramy Habib, Enbiologics
TechTown on Tap Technology Business Salute Award
Mashelle Sykes, Fusion Flare Kitchen & Cocktails
TechTown on Tap Neighborhood Business Salute Award
2018
Nailah Ellis-Brown, Ellis Island Tea
Entrepreneur of the Year
Monica Wheat, Venture Catalysts
Small Business Champion of the Year
Ali Beydoun, Sicily’s Pizzeria
TechTown on Tap Neighborhood Business Salute Award
Joe Gleason, Genus
TechTown on Tap Technology Business Salute Award
2017
Century Partners
Entrepreneur of the Year
Global Detroit
Small Business Champion of the Year
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Special Salute Award
Eric Yelsma and Brenna Lane, Detroit Denim Co.
TechTown on Tap Neighborhood Business Salute Award
2016
Sean Ainsworth and RetroSense Therapeutics
TechTown Entrepreneur of the Year
James Edward Feagin IV
Small Business Champion of the Year
Lana Rodriguez, Mama Coo’s Boutique
TechTown On Tap Neighborhood Business Salute Award
Regina Gaines, House of Pure Vin
TechTown on Tap Neighborhood Business Salute Award
Omer Kiyani, Sentinl
TechTown on Tap Technology Business Salute Award
In 2020, TechTown renamed the Small Business Champion Award in honor of Detroit community leader, entrepreneur and business strategist Marlowe Stoudamire. The Marlowe Stoudamire Small Business Champion Award is now presented annually to an individual or organization that exemplifies Stoudamire’s entrepreneurial spirit and legacy of building community to create opportunity for all Detroiters.