Walter C. Kruse, Sapulpa , will be formally honored as the Small Business Administration Financial Services Advocate of the Year for Oklahoma Award recipient at a banquet at Rose State College, June 9 th, in Oklahoma City . Kruse is a Business Development Specialist at the Central Technology Center Business Assistance Center in Sapulpa.

Kruse was instrumental in assisting MidSouth Techologies, LLC, locate in Drumright, bringing a dozen new quality jobs to the rural community. "Walter came in and evaluated our business and directed us in our negotiations for a new facility in Drumright. He also spent an enormous amount of time assisting us in getting our accounting system operating correctly, putting together a financial plan as well as forecast what our state would be in the year to come," said MidSouth Technologies president Robert Shackelford.

Kruse is also credited with assisting MidSouth's Board of Directors and management in gaining a $400,000 bank business loan for the growing maker of postal sorting equipment. The Central Tech specialist's expertise in developing business plans, forecasts and financing has helped several small businesses to locate in Creek County and surrounding areas in recent years.

BancFirst Commercial Capital president T. Kent Faison praises Kruse, saying: "I have been involved in providing financing to businesses in Oklahoma for over eighteen years. During this time, I have come in contact with many different individuals that try to help businesses get started, grow and even flourish. Without a doubt, Walter Kruse, with his no-nonsense, hands on approach to working with small businesses, is without peer."

"Walter is an expert at helping companies find innovative ways to solve problems, improve cash flow and improve the general financial health of their organization," says Connie Cunningham, Small Business Management Coordinator for Indian Capitol Technology Center, Muskogee.