Louisville, KY – September 25, 2025 – Louisville Beauty Academy (LBA), a pioneering family-owned and state-licensed beauty school committed to multilingual vocational training for immigrants, women, and low-income individuals, today celebrates a groundbreaking milestone in small business excellence. For the first time in history, a Kentucky small business has been honored simultaneously as a finalist for the National Small Business Association’s (NSBA) Lewis Shattuck Small Business Advocate of the Year Award and as a U.S. Chamber of Commerce CO—100 honoree in the same year (2025). This unprecedented dual recognition not only marks a first for Kentucky but also for the entire nation—no company has ever achieved these two distinctions in a single year, based on extensive historical research of public records, winner lists, and announcements from both organizations.
Exhaustive searches of internet records, including past winner lists from the NSBA (dating back to the 1990s) and the U.S. Chamber’s CO—100 (launched in 2023), reveal no prior instances of a Kentucky small business receiving the CO—100 honor, and only one other Kentucky finalist for the NSBA award in 2024 (with no Kentucky winners recorded). This makes LBA’s accomplishments a true honor for the Commonwealth, showcasing Kentucky’s small business innovation on the national stage. As a proud Kentuckiana and Louisvillian small business, LBA is humbled to represent thousands of tenacious entrepreneurs across the USA who embody the American dream through resilience, community impact, and advocacy.
The prestige of these awards is unparalleled. The NSBA Lewis Shattuck Small Business Advocate of the Year Award is one of the most selective honors in small business advocacy, recognizing exceptional volunteer efforts on issues like tax reform, regulatory relief, and policy equity. With typically 4–5 finalists selected annually from a competitive pool of nominees nationwide, it highlights advocates who champion small businesses beyond their own operations—a non-partisan effort led by the nation’s longest-running small business association. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce CO—100, an elite program celebrating America’s top 100 small and mid-sized businesses, selects winners from over 12,500 applicants in 2025 (and more than 14,000 in 2024) for innovation, growth, resilience, and community contributions in categories like Enduring Businesses for those with 10+ years of sustained success. To receive even one of these awards is a rare distinction; to earn both in the same year is historic, symbolizing LBA’s dual excellence in operational innovation and policy advocacy while representing the voices of tens of thousands of small businesses nationwide.
“We are deeply grateful for this extraordinary recognition, which reflects the hard work of our team, students, and community,” said Di Tran, Founder of Louisville Beauty Academy. “As an immigrant entrepreneur and proud Louisvillian, I’ve built LBA to empower underserved communities through affordable, debt-free education in cosmetology, esthetics, nail technology, and more. With nearly 2,000 graduates contributing up to $50 million annually to Kentucky’s economy, our pay-as-you-go model ensures accessibility for all. Being the first Kentucky business—and the first in the USA—to earn these awards in a single year fills us with pride. It’s a testament to Kentucky’s entrepreneurial spirit, the rebounding strength of immigrants, and the unity of American small businesses. Go USA!”
Di Tran, a 2025 NSBA finalist, has exemplified advocacy by founding the New American Business Association Inc. (NABA) and influencing Kentucky Senate Bill 14, which advances equitable licensing and multilingual exams for immigrant professionals. Complementing this, LBA’s selection as the sole Kentucky honoree in the 2025 CO—100 Enduring Businesses category—from over 12,500 applicants—highlights its decade-plus of growth, resilience, and economic impact through innovative free-enterprise practices.
This dual accolade positions Louisville Beauty Academy as a national leader, inspiring small businesses everywhere. As LBA continues to expand its multilingual programs and community outreach, it remains dedicated to transforming lives and strengthening Kentucky’s economy.
For more information about Louisville Beauty Academy, visit www.louisvillebeautyacademy.net. Discover Di Tran’s 120+ published books on Amazon, available in Kindle and Paperback. For details on the research verifying these historic achievements, contact the Louisville Beauty Academy Compliance Office and Public Relations at study@louisvillebeautyacademy.net.
Media Contact:
Louisville Beauty Academy – Compliance Office and Public Relations
Email: study@louisvillebeautyacademy.net
Phone (TEXT IS BEST): 502-625-5531
About Louisville Beauty Academy
Established in 2014, Louisville Beauty Academy is a state-licensed beauty school offering flexible, multilingual training to diverse communities. Focused on eliminating educational barriers through pay-as-you-go tuition, LBA empowers graduates to succeed in the beauty industry while fostering economic growth in Kentucky and beyond.
This press release is based on verified research confirming the uniqueness of these achievements for Kentucky and the nation, with no prior records of similar dual recognitions. For source details, contact study@louisvillebeautyacademy.net.
