Cygnus Inc.

SBA NEWS RELEASE
U.S. Small Business Administration

Region X

Release Date: April 13, 2000
Release Number: 00-17
SBA Web page: www.sba.gov

Contact: Pat Hunt 206-553-7277 Dr. Jack Ambrosiani, President 2082634761 Roberta Legaspi-Valdez, Nominator 3103328829

IDAHO FIRM WINS
SUBCONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
Seattle: Andrew Munro, Acting Regional Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, announced today that Cygnus, Inc., of Ponderay, Idaho has been selected as the Northwest Region’s Subcontractor of the Year - 2000. The award presentation will take place in Washington, D.C. in early June. A local recognition event in Ponderay will follow the national ceremonies.

Candidates for this award were evaluated on the basis of management ability, financial stamina and controls, labor relations, customer interface, technical capabilities, resource utilization, cost performance, delivery performance, quality performance and overall performance. Cygnus, Inc. received a 100% ranking in every category. The company was nominated by Roberta Legaspi-Valdez, of Northrop Grumman Corporation, Air Combat Systems, in Hawthorne, CA.

Cygnus, Inc., through its by-laws, requires all employees to agree and adhere to a corporately established, character-based Code of Ethics. The firm was started in 1988 by Dr. Jack Ambrosiani, an aerospace research and development and aircraft programs engineer. Cygnus principally produces sheet metal parts and assemblies: they employ 65 people. Owing to its outstanding subcontractor performance, Cygnus, Inc. has earned Boeing’s Silver level preferred supplier rating and Northrop Grumman’s Key Plan Blue Rating.

Cygnus, Inc. is also qualified under SBA’a HubZone Program. HubZone companies are those that are located in “historically underutilized business zones,” with 35% of the employees being located and living in a HubZone. HubZones are areas with either low income or high unemployment. HubZone designated companies are given the opportunity to negotiate sole-source contracts with federal agencies and to qualify for a 10 percent price preference on competitive bids. The purpose of the program is to bring new money and employment into such communities.

In announcing this award, Munro stated: “The SBA is extremely proud to recognize Cygnus as the Regional Subcontractor of the Year. Cygnus is a dedicated and outstanding company that has benefited from the HubZone Program. The SBA is proud to have played a role in this company’s success.

Roberta Legaspi-Valdez, of Northrop Grumman Corporation, who nominated the firm said: “This Subcontractor has a very sound management structure with excellent financial controls. The firm is a leader in developing an employee ownership concept that has woven their employees into a creative, cost-effective and highly trained team. Their code of ethics has proven to work as a builder of team-oriented, quality people, who work well with their customers. They have shown a strong understanding of subcontracting work, and the importance of delivering quality parts on time and within budget.”

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For more information on Surety Bond Guarantee Program, the HUBZone Program and other SBA programs, call the SBA Answer Desk at 1-800-U-ASK-SBA, or visit the SBA’s extensive Web site at www.sba.gov.