October 27, 2004
Loretta Degrazia and East Coast Petroleum, Named as National Finalist
in 2004 Stevie Awards for Women Entrepreneurs
On October 22, 2004, East Coast
Petroleum and its president, Loretta DeGrazia, were named finalists for Best
Entrepreneur in a Non-Service Business at the Stevie Awards for Women
Entrepreneurs.
The Stevie Awards for Women
Entrepreneurs is a competition recognizing the accomplishments of women small
business owners worldwide. Winners were announced on Friday, October 22, 2004
in a televised ceremony at the Marriott Marquis in New York City's Times
Square. The master of ceremonies was Bill Rancic, the spokesperson for Advanta,
which sponsors the awards and the winner of the hit television show, "The
Apprentice."
More than 640 nominations were
submitted for small companies from all over the globe. Loretta DeGrazia,
President of East Coast Petroleum was among the final fifteen for Best
Entrepreneur in a Non-Service Business.
Ms. DeGrazia founded East Coast
Petroleum nineteen years ago and turned it into a twenty person enterprise
which not only delivers highly regarded residential and business heating oil
and installation services, but also delivers and installs York air conditioning
systems and services refrigeration needs of customers. East Coast Petroleum has
also received considerable recognition for its charitable and civic work in the
community. Of the award Ms. DeGrazia said: " It was truly amazing to be in such
admirable company during this competition. This recognition belongs not only to
me but to my entire crew and staff. We are very honored to be nationally
acknowledged for our work."
The Advanta Corporation, the sponsor
of the Stevie Awards, has been committed to supporting the success of women in
business for over 50 years. It originally provided need-based loans to women
entrepreneurs when banks often would not. It is one of the nation's largest
issuers of MasterCard business cards to all of America's small businesses. The
Stevie trophy was designed by R.S. Owens, the same company that makes the Oscar
and the Emmy.
Contact Person:
Bernice Mader,
Consultant for Business Development
East Coast Petroleum
(617)
773-6881
bernicemader1@comcast.net
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Event
Photos:
Rhonda Schaffler, New York Stock Exchange
Correspondent for CNN Business News, Jessika Kane, Office Manager at East Coast
Petroleum, Bill Rancic of The Apprentice and Loretta DeGrazia, President of
East Coast Petroleum
Jessika Kane, Office Manager at East Coast
Petroluem, Michael Gallagher, President of the Advanta Banking Corporation and
Loretta DeGrazia, President of East Coast Petroleum
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