An Edmonds woman has been named the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 2018 SBA Seattle District Small Business Champion of the Year.

Mary Marshall, an executive coach and business advisor, has worked with and for small business owners for more than 25 years, committing herself to their success, the SBA said in an announcement.

In addition to running her own successful small business — Marshall Advisors, LLC — as the founder and principal, Marshall has been the lead instructor for the Seattle SBA Emerging Leaders course for the past five years. As part of teaching SBA Emerging Leaders, she offers her coaching services pro bono to many of the 90-plus entrepreneurs who have taken the class since 2012.

Marshall is also a member of Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), through which she has advocated for legislation to help small minority-owned and women-owned businesses since 2005.

“Mary has been an incredible asset to the SBA Emerging Leaders program and the entrepreneurs she guides through the intensive seven-month executive education course during the past five years,” SBA Seattle District Director Kerrie Hurd said. “Her passion, experience and wisdom shine through all of her interactions as she equips entrepreneurs with the tools to grow their businesses strategically. As these businesses grow and create jobs, the impact which she has on the local economy is exponential.”

The SBA Small Business Champion award — part of National Small Business Week April 29-May 5 — is awarded to those who advocate and promote small business above and beyond the call of their professional duties and responsibilities.

“I’m incredibly honored,” Marshall said. “The focus should be on entrepreneurs, they’re the backbone of our economy and society and it’s an honor serve them. I’ve been working with entrepreneurs for over 25 years and the SBA Emerging Leaders program is probably the most impactful way that I have to make a difference.”

Marshall’s work as an instructor with the SBA Emerging Leaders program has become well known for its delivery and impact. She is frequently flown to other Emerging Leaders programs across the country to teach the other instructors how to deliver the course content effectively.

Marshall also acts as a small business champion in her community of Edmonds, where she advocated to start Small Business Saturday in 2009.

“National Small Business Week is a time to recognize the impact of small businesses in the Pacific Northwest by sharing their inspirational stories of success, resilience and determination,” SBA Regional Administrator Jeremy Field said. “It’s my honor to celebrate the entrepreneurs who use innovation to solve problems, create jobs and make a difference in our local communities.”

A celebration honoring local SBA winners from Washington state and the SBA Seattle District — which serves the state of Washington and northern Idaho — will be May 3. Other SBA local awards that will be recognized at the celebration include Small Business Person of the Year, Small Business Exporter of the Year, Encore Entrepreneur of the Year, Family-Owned Small Business of the Year, Millennial Entrepreneur of the Year and Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year.

For more information about National Small Business Week, visit www.sba.gov/nsbw.