Indiana's Small Business Person of the Year.

• Author: Hughes, Ann
• Position: Robert J. Stevens, president and chief executive officer Impact Forge Inc. and Net Forge Inc.

Every year, the U.S. Small Business Administration pays tribute to champions of small business with its Small Business Person of the Year and its Small Business Advocate of the Year awards. The following have been so honored in 1990 by the Indiana District of the SBA.

Indiana Small Business Person of the Year, Robert J. Stevens, president and CEO of Impact Forge, Inc., and Net Forge, Inc., both of Columbus.

Since its founding in 1985, Impact Forge, Inc., which is a supplier to the automotive, diesel engine and appliance industries, has grown to have a work force in excess of 150 and annual sales of more than $13 million. This phenomenal growth has been achieved through creativity in production and quality control. By purchasing and modifying equipment to its own specifications, Impact Forge has reduced the necessity of reworking or scrapping bad parts.

its reputation for strict quality control also has attracted new business. "Our whole concept," explains Stevens, "was to try to engineer quality into the part-making process rather than to inspect quality into what goes out after the process.'

Though his success speaks of hard work and long hours...