Bill Text: VA SJR30 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending Debra Hamilton Farley, Ph.D.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-01-22 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ30ER) [SJR30 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-SJR30-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, since the establishment of the Small Business Development Center of Hampton Roads, Inc. in 1990, Debra Hamilton Farley, Ph.D., has served small business owners throughout the 18 cities and counties of the Hampton Roads region; and
WHEREAS, Debra Hamilton Farley started her career with the Small Business Development Center of Hampton Roads (HRSBDC) as a program coordinator and subsequently advanced to the position of associate executive director; and
WHEREAS, small businesses account for 93 percent of all businesses in the four Congressional districts that represent Hampton Roads, employing more than 513,000 employees and generating over $20.92 billion in annual payroll, and Debra Hamilton Farley provided direct counseling and training services to thousands of these prospective and existing small business owners; and
WHEREAS, Debra Hamilton Farley, on her own time while working full-time and raising school-aged children with her husband, graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in business management from Hampton University and later earned a master's degree in global management from Cambridge College; and
WHEREAS, on December 3, 2022, Debra Hamilton Farley was awarded an honorary doctor of philosophy degree in entrepreneurship and business administration and a certification as a business and entrepreneurship coach by the T.I.U.A. School of Business in Duluth, Georgia, in recognition of her tireless service and dedication to the region's small businesses; and
WHEREAS, Debra Hamilton Farley's services helped businesses create or save thousands of jobs and generate millions of dollars in debt and equity financing and enabled hundreds of small businesses to start operations in the Hampton Roads region; and
WHEREAS, Debra Hamilton Farley served her community by continuously sharing valuable information as she hosted and presented on multiple small business panels; facilitated workshops and special events educating and empowering entrepreneurs, veterans, women in business, and more; and served within her church, Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal of Newport News, as one of 19 stewards and as the church school superintendent; and
WHEREAS, during her 33-year tenure with the HRSBDC, Debra Hamilton Farley was recognized by the Virginia Small Business Development Center Network as the organization's "State Star"; by the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce as its recipient of the Minority Business Advocate of the Year award; by Inside Business as one of the 20 women recipients of its Women in Business Achievement award; and by Hampton University as an Outstanding Alumni; and
WHEREAS, Debra Hamilton Farley was key in helping Hampton Roads small businesses recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by assisting the region's small businesses in obtaining over $3.5 billion in federal, state, and private relief funds; and
WHEREAS, Debra Hamilton Farley and her husband, Tommie, are the proud parents of three daughters who employ the values, service, and leadership they learned from their parents in their respective fields and are the proud and devoted grandparents of two amazing granddaughters who are the lights of their lives; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Debra Hamilton Farley, Ph.D., for her service to the Hampton Roads region and its numerous small business owners; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Debra Hamilton Farley, Ph.D., as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for her contributions to the Commonwealth.
