In these uncertain fiscal times, one thing we can count on is small business, which is key to our economic growth and stability. Like most of America, California is reliant upon its small businesses to supply a lion’s share of its economic production and the new jobs needed to get residents back to work.

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. California’s three million small firms, which each have fewer than 500 employees, represent 99 percent of the state’s employers. Because of their smaller size, these companies tend to be more flexible and innovative, which will help the state grow its way out of the global recession. In addition to all the financial ways that small businesses benefit the state, starting a small company in California can offer unlimited opportunities to anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit and a drive to succeed.

Entrepreneurial spirit and drive to succeed are two of the many qualities I would use to describe Julie Berry, CEO of Cal-Con Pumping LLC and my selection as the Third Senate District’s 2011 Small Business of the Year. Each year I have the privilege of naming a small business in our district to be honored for its achievements in the marketplace, its contributions to the community, and the jobs it provides. After closely considering a number of worthy candidates, Cal-Con Pumping LLC stood out as the small business most deserving of this recognition.

Located in the Bayview District of San Francisco, Cal-Con Pumping is a wonderful success story. It is a woman-owned construction business that excels in a trade that is very male dominated. Cal-Con Pumping provides concrete pumping services for construction projects across Northern California. It was recently awarded $2.95 million in contracts on the Doyle Drive Replacement Project, which involves replacing and improving the southern approach to the Golden Gate Bridge located in San Francisco’s famed Presidio. A contract like this provides much-needed jobs for our community and gives an important boost to our depressed economy.

A visionary company like Cal-Con Pumping needs an ambitious businessperson at its head, and Julie Berry more than fits the bill. A former Visa Corporation executive, Berry oversees the company’s numerous management teams including operations, marketing, sales, engineering, and information technology. She is also in charge of establishing company strategies related to market segmentation and trends. Her leadership has played a pivotal role in Cal-Con Pumping’s remarkable success.

I am proud to be a small business owner myself and, as such, understand just how vital we are to the health of California’s economy. That is why I take great pleasure in recognizing the contributions of small businesses in general and Cal-Con Pumping in particular. These are the “little engines that can.” They work hard every day to support, sustain and promote California’s continued place as the eighth largest economy in the world.

If you are a small business owner or considering opening a business, you can contact the Governor’s Office of Economic Development at 877-345-4633 or visit www.business.ca.gov. It is a one-stop shop that provides information on starting a business, permit assistance, loan opportunities, and other resources you may need to succeed.

Senator Mark Leno represents the Third Senate District of California, which includes portions of San Francisco and Sonoma Counties and all of Marin County. www.senate.ca.gov/Leno