ACE Award Goes To Local Business Owners

Congresswoman Lois Capps yesterday congratulated Susan and Tom Stenovec from San Luis Obispo on their family business being chosen as one of two national recipients of the 14th Annual Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE).

Susan and Tom Stenovec’s family owns Tea Importers, Inc, the primary stakeholder of the Sorwathe Tea Plantation and Factory in Rwanda.  Together, these companies were recognized as an ACE award recipient for their work to end child labor in the tea industry and their efforts to promote adult literacy, worker’s rights, and environmental sustainability. Tea is one of Rwanda’s biggest exports and Sorwathe is the largest tea company in Rwanda. 

Eleven finalists were selected from 82 nominations submitted by U.S. Ambassadors stationed all over the world.