PARSIPPANY, NJ— Green Room Communications, a specialty healthcare communications agency was awarded the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2019 Regional Subcontractor of the Year Award for Region II, it was announced today.

In making the announcement, SBA Regional Administrator Steve Bulger said Green Room Communications competed against several other firms from Region II, which encompasses New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for the award.

According to Bulger, the Parsippany-based company was nominated for the award by Kathleen Castore, Head of Supplier Diversity and Sustainability at Sanofi, a global biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Bridgewater.

Green Room Communications was selected for the award based on criteria that measures a firm’s technical and management capability; financial strength; customer interface and support; innovativeness of products or services offered; and the ability to deliver quality services and products on time and at a competitive cost to the U.S. Government.

Established in 2008 by Managing Partners Karen Carolonza and Deborah Fowler, Green Room Communications provides its clients with public relations, advocacy, media, creative design and consulting services for the healthcare industry.

“Our work with Green Room spans 10 years,” said Castore, “This is a tribute to how they continue to innovate and evolve with us, providing us with services that bring value to our business. At Sanofi, we consider our Small Business Program to be a business imperative that drives innovation, job creation and creates economic growth with small and diverse businesses.”

“To be nominated for this award by a global pharmaceutical company recognizing our hard work and innovation in communications is an incredible honor,” said Fowler. “We have a unique relationship with our clients; in fact, we call them partners because they do not see us or treat us as vendors. We are an extension of their teams.”

“Many small businesses are unaware of the supplier diversity programs that major prime contractors like Sanofi have in place today,” said Bulger. “Sanofi is consistently in the Top 100 of prime contractors that provide hundreds of millions of dollars in subcontracts each year. They are to be commended for their commitment to giving small businesses like Green Room Communications the opportunity to obtain subcontracting work that is so vital to the U.S. Government.”

Both Carolonza and Fowler were presented with their award at SBA’s New Jersey district office located in Newark. Joining Bulger at the presentation were SBA New Jersey District Director Al Titone and Supervisory Area Office Business Specialist/Procurement Center Representative from Picatinny Arsenal Michael Cecere.

“Niche businesses like Green Room Communications prove that there is space to compete for subcontracts from major prime contractors,” said Titone. “The certification that Green Room Communications received from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) was essential to opening the doors to these contracting opportunities.”

“Our partners realize a small business like Green Room can deliver big agency impact,” said Carolonzas. “We are like a biotech: nimble, efficient and with access to the top communications strategists in the industry.”

Green Room Communications competed with nine other subcontractors across the country for the title of SBA’s 2019 National Subcontractor of the Year. The national award was presented to Admiral Engineering & Manufacturing Company, Inc., a high-quality precision manufacturing firm for the aerospace, defense, space medical and technology industries of Phoenix, Arizona by Acting SBA Administrator Chris Pilkerton National Small Business Week ceremonies held in Washington, D.C. earlier this month.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start and grow their businesses. It delivers services to people through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.