Posted March 31, 2020

 

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Ahead of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration has announced this year’s Small Business Persons of the Year winners – over 50 outstanding small business owners and entrepreneurs from across the United States, Puerto Rico and Guam.

 

Furman “Eddie” Burgess, owner of Diversified Systems, Inc., has been selected as South Carolina’s Small Business Person of the Year for 2020.

 

Burgess founded Diversified Systems, Inc. (DSI) here in 1990. A premier machine solutions provider, DSI designs, builds, delivers and installs both customized and standard machinery for a diverse range of industries located around the world. DSI has employed hundreds of highly skilled associates over the past 30 years. 

 

Burgess’s success is due to his more than 40 years’ experience in the industry, a fierce entrepreneurial spirit and can-do attitude; a commitment to excellence, and his unique vision for growth through diversifications.

 

Strategic acquisitions have helped him expand DSI’s product offerings to better serve a growing customer base that includes textile, carpet, nonwovens, plastics and film industries as well as automotive, aerospace, medical, printing and robotics. In addition, DSI’s structural steel fabrication and steel erection divisions have generated customers in industrial and medical fields, plus, schools, fire departments, hotels, retail and more.

 

Burgess is a South Carolina native and graduate of Berea High School. He is active in his community and has partnered with local artist on art installations including one at the entrance to the Greenville’s Cancer Survivor Park.

 

Each year, the SBA celebrates National Small Business Week by recognizing the achievements of outstanding small business owners and entrepreneurs across the United States. All NSBW winners have been invited to attend ceremonies in Washington, D.C., in August, where they will be honored with their individual award along with special recognition of the three runners-up and the naming of the 2020 National Small Business Person of the Year.

 

SBA will also co-host a free, two-day virtual conference featuring educational workshops and networking. Additionally, recognition and educational seminars throughout SBA’s 10 Regions and 68 Districts will be held throughout the week. To get involved in the National Small Business Week activities and to see all the 2020 awardees, visit www.sba.gov/nsbw.

 

Source: Diversified Systems