By Jeff Bean
June 27, 2005

George A. Cloutier, Founder and CEO of American Management Services, Inc. and Chairman of PartnerAmericatm, was presented the 2005 Small Business Leadership Award at the plenary session of the 73rd Annual Meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors. At the special Plenary session, Conference President Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic began by addressing the needs of small businesses throughout the country. He referred to small businesses as "the backbone of our local economy" and explained how mayors have the unique opportunity to work hand-in-hand with the small business community to help them be successful and profitable through the assistance of programs like PartnerAmericatm.

Plusquellic then introduced a video presentation on the PartnerAmericatm program featuring Conference Executive Director Tom Cochran. Cochran highlighted the history of American Management Services from its founding in 1986 by George Cloutier through the inception of PartnerAmericatm five years ago and its joint effort with the Conference of Mayors to target the needs of small businesses. The video featured interviews with small business owners who had received invaluable assistance from American Management Services and PartnerAmericatm. At the close of the video, Cochran thanked Cloutier and the staff of American Management Services for their continued assistance as the leading small business turnaround experts, helping small businesses realize over $1 billion in savings through the PartnerAmericatm program.

Plusquellic, joined by Cochran, presented Cloutier with the 2005 Small Business Leadership Award. The award was given in recognition of the five-year successful partnership between PartnerAmericatm and the Conference, and in honor of Cloutier's continued efforts in promoting small business development and expansion throughout the country. Plusquellic said, "George, I give this to you with my heartfelt thanks for your efforts to improve the business climate in each of our communities, and I hope that we may have many more years of successful partnership with you and your company."

Cloutier thanked Plusquellic for his dedication as former co-chair of the PartnerAmericatm Task Force and for helping make the 2003 PartnerAmericatm Small Business Conference held in Akron a success. Cloutier also thanked former task force co-chair Rochester (NY) Mayor William Johnson and current task force co-chairs, Kansas City (MO) Mayor Kay Barnes and Stamford (CT) Mayor Dannel Malloy, saying, "Your leadership and counsel have helped make PartnerAmericatm a productive and useful tool for the nation's mayors."

Cloutier concluded by thanking Cochran for his vision and commitment to providing mayors with programs to help small businesses in our nation's cities. Cloutier said Cochran's labors had "led to a successful five-year partnership between PartnerAmerica^tm and the United States Conference of Mayors, which we believe will continue to grow for many years."