2009 Minority Small business Person of the Year
Carmen Nazario is President and CEO of ELYON International, an information technology company that provides innovative, best-in-class consulting, IT solutions and services to government and Fortune 500 companies. Nazario was born and raised in Puerto Rico. In 1970, while attending the University of Puerto Rico, she decided to join the US Army. This move led her into her career path in computers and technology. Nazario attended the Adjutant General School, at Ft.
Benjamin Harrison, Indiana and trained in computer programming. She graduated with honors. Nazario also received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Portland State University in Portland, Oregon and continued graduate studies in Education. After serving in the military, Nazario worked in numerous roles as a Project Manager, Systems Analyst and an Information Systems Consultant. Her extensive industry experience includes: retail, telephony, school systems, higher education, health care, manufacturing, military, state and county governments.
In 1997, Nazario launched her company with a Fred Meyers contract. She received business help from SBA’s partner, SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business. Since then ELYON International has successfully executed numerous contracts with the public and private sector. Currently Ms. Nazario is responsible for the formulation of LYON’s business strategy and for managing the company’s business activities which has grown to 18 employees.
Nazario is also a 2003 graduate of the TUCK’s Minority Business Executive Program at Dartmouth, and a 2004 graduate of Howard University School of Business 8(a) Academy sponsored by the SBA. Nazario has taken advantage of all the opportunities that SBA offers from lending to training opportunities. Nazario has a passion for small business. She is actively involved with the Northwest Minority Business Council. She was also an active leader in their Minority Business Enterprise Input Committee for nine years and also involved in many activities that deal with veterans and veteran businesses.
Nazario is a wife, grandmother and the mother of three children who are successful entrepreneurs. “Business should be about collaboration … with all constituencies —customers, partners, suppliers and employees,” said Nazario. “Realizing that working together and helping each other, we can extend ourselves beyond just our company … we can impact a community.
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