NaVOBA Names Boutique Hotel Founder its Vetrepreneur of the Year

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA) has announced that Larry Broughton, founder and owner of Broughton Hospitality Group, has been named its Vetrepreneur of the Year.

The 45-year-old Newport Beach, Calif. former Army Special Forces soldier is featured in the January 2008 issue of Vetrepreneur, the official magazine of NaVOBA. Founded in 2001, Broughton Hospitality now includes 12 upscale boutique hotels in California and Bali with revenues of nearly $25 million and more than 300 employees.

"It's our distinct honor to have an individual with the caliber of success as Larry Broughton represent NaVOBA for the next year as our Vetrepreneur of the Year," said NaVOBA President Chris Hale. "He represents the best qualities of entrepreneurs -- confident, persistent, creative and agile -- and will serve to inspire other veterans to start and grow their own businesses."

Broughton served as a weapons sergeant in the U.S. Army Special Forces from 1983 to 1992 before making the life-changing decision to go into business for himself, but not by himself. He is quick to credit his personal philosophy of giving everyone -- from employees to customers -- the personal attention they deserve. Broughton clearly cites his military training and experience as instrumental in developing the qualities needed to make him successful.

NaVOBA, the nation's leading organization representing the nation's 3 million veterans who own businesses, also tabbed five vetrepreneurs for Honorable Mention status. They include:

Army veteran Dennis Fontana, owner of engineering firm Sentry Box Services, based in Columbia, S.C.

Former Marine Lisa Wolford, founder of IT provider CSSS.NET, based in Bellevue, Neb.

Navy veteran Tracy Solomon, owner of electronics concern TEVET, based in Alpharetta, Ga.

Former Marine Mark Llano, owner of Source One Distributors, based in Wellington, Fla.

Army veteran Michael Guervremont, founder of logistics company Executive Protection Systems, based in Winchester, Va.

NaVOBA (www.navoba.com) is owned and operated by Victory Media, a veteran- owned business that has published Vetrepreneur (formerly Veterans Business Journal) magazine since 2004.