NVBDC-certified firms win honors at Michigan small business gala

By AI, Created 5:06 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Two NVBDC-certified companies, United Image Group and Great Lakes Label, LLC, were recognized at the 2026 Michigan Celebrates Small Business Summit & Awards Gala in April. The honors underscore how veteran business certification is helping companies build credibility, win buyers and grow in Michigan and beyond.

Why it matters: - The awards show how veteran-owned businesses are using certification to strengthen credibility and compete for larger contracts. - NVBDC is positioning certification as a pathway to corporate procurement, supplier diversity opportunities and international expansion. - The recognition also highlights veteran entrepreneurship as a growth engine in Michigan’s small business community.

What happened: - NVBDC recognized two certified companies at the 2026 Michigan Celebrates Small Business Summit & Awards Gala, held April 21-22, 2026. - United Image Group was named Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year. - Great Lakes Label, LLC was named one of the Small Business Association of Michigan’s Top 50 Companies to Watch in 2026. - NVBDC certification team members Jeff King and Toni Moses attended the event to support the companies.

The details: - United Image Group is a Michigan-based branding and visual communications company led by President Brian Vella. - The company serves clients nationwide in commercial, healthcare, education and nonprofit sectors. - United Image Group provides apparel, promotional products, signage and branding services. - Since becoming NVBDC certified, United Image Group has reported stronger credibility and market presence. - Brian Vella said customers view the certification as a mark of trust and validation. - Jeff King said United Image Group reflects the resilience and leadership seen across NVBDC-certified businesses. - Great Lakes Label, LLC was founded in 1994 by CEO Tony Cook, a U.S. Army Infantry veteran. - Great Lakes Label started in a one-bedroom office with a single press and has grown into a flexographic flexible packaging printer. - The company now produces labels, shrink film, tags and other flexible packaging solutions. - Great Lakes Label operates seven presses. - Great Lakes Label reports $25 million in annual sales and projects $30 million by the end of 2026. - The company employs 76 people. - Over the past six years of NVBDC certification, Great Lakes Label has built relationships with Fortune 100 buyers and expanded its customer base. - Tony Cook said NVBDC has been a catalyst for growth and has helped open new business opportunities. - Both companies said NVBDC networking and events have led to long-term business relationships. - NVBDC says certification can strengthen supplier diversity positioning and open direct pathways to corporate procurement opportunities. - NVBDC encourages veteran-owned businesses of all sizes to pursue certification. - NVBDC is expanding international opportunities through partnerships with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration and other global trade and finance partners. - Those efforts are intended to give certified veteran-owned businesses access to export education, trade resources and international matchmaking opportunities.

Between the lines: - The awards function as proof points for NVBDC’s broader pitch that certification is not just a badge, but a business-development tool. - The emphasis on Fortune 100 buyers and international trade suggests NVBDC is trying to move certified firms into higher-value markets. - The two companies also illustrate different growth paths: one in branding and one in packaging, both tied to veteran ownership and certification.

What’s next: - NVBDC plans to keep promoting certification as a route to visibility, buyer access and long-term growth. - The organization will continue building its international initiative to help certified firms pursue global business opportunities. - Success stories like United Image Group and Great Lakes Label are likely to remain part of NVBDC’s outreach to veteran-owned businesses.

The bottom line: - For NVBDC, the gala honors serve as a public case study in how certification can translate into recognition, relationships and revenue.