Company: Small Beginnings Inc.
Company Description: Founded by M.S.Rogone RNC-E, 25 yrs.ago, using her inventions for the better care of hospitalized premature infants. The products are developmentally designed to aid the normal development sick or premature patients. The philosophy is better for the babies, better for the nurse & better for the hospital. We are a contract manufacturer with Intnl. sales & we have 9 employees plus distributors.
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Lifetime Achievement – Business

Nomination Title: M. Sharon Ragon, CEO

Describe for the judges the nominated individual's lifetime of accomplishments (up to 525 words):

M. Sharon Ragone, with just $3000 and a good idea, started the company about 29 years ago to facilitate better outcomes for sick & premature infants. Lack of finances made it difficult so she worked 3 jobs. She tried to write her 1st Patent herself & did most but paid for the last 8 words $800, her patent examiner & attorney were amazed. She now has 8 patents & many trademarks.

Sharon & her products were added to the Smithsonian National American History Museum archives in 2008 as an inventor & entrepreneur with her inventions placed in the NICU Medical Products Division.

Without funds it is very hard to grow a business but by putting the profits back into the company & risking her nursing retirement and mortgaging her home & persistence and determination the company has slowly grown. The company & products are internationally & nationally known, marketed, sold & well received. She feels like she touches & improves so many lives for the better with her developmental "Do No Harm" product line.

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Provide a brief biography of the nominated individual (up to 125 words):

Sharon was born in California in 1942, that makes her 72YO. She was raised in a suburb of LA & was a tomboy & a nerd, yet was on the fringes of popularity. She was a candy stripper & was planning to be an RN, but married right out of high school and started a family 2 years later & had 3 children. After a divorce she went back to school & got that RN, remarried an amazing guy & now has 5 step kids, all together that's 8 & a 11 grand kids & 4 great gks.She is still kind of an attractive nerd with a quirky personality & is still working to improve outcomes of sick babies & preemies along with her guy.