Lowell Hawthorne, President & CEO of Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill (GK), the nation's largest Caribbean franchise chain, was awarded the Jamaica Observer's Business Leader Award for 2010. The award was presented by Observer Chairman – Gordon "Butch" Stewart at a banquet held on Wednesday, November 30 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica. This award is considered to be the island's most prestigious and coveted business award.

Lowell Hawthorne was named winner among nine nominees in the Diaspora who are also trailblazers in their chosen fields. Nominees for the 2010 award included: Richard M. Powell, co-founder and co-senior managing director of the Florida-based private equity company AP Capital Partners Inc; Vincent HoSang and his wife Jeanette, founders and principals of the New York-based Royal Caribbean Bakery; George Yap, founder and principal of Miami-based LEASA Industries; Beverly Nichols, founder and principal of the New York-based Beverly's Home Health Care; Marcus Simmonds and his wife Monique Hamaty-Simmonds, operators of the Miami-based Tortuga Imports; Verona Greenland, founder and president of the New York-based Morris Heights Health Centre; and Vincent Lai and his wife Lorain, founders and operators of the Toronto-based, Nicey's Food Mart.

Branding isn't just for the big guys. Small businesses can launch, grow and expand through clear and consistent messaging and marketing, just like larger companies do.

If you're a small-business owner, creating a distinct brand image for your product or service is essential - and can be accomplished through some very simple methods. Karen Post, the branding diva and author of Brand Turnaround, offers tips for small businesses looking to create a memorable, impactful brand or image:

Start with a game plan - Ask yourself, how do you want people or customers to think about you or your business? Consider what your story is and what makes your product, service and company unique. Is your persona sophisticated and established, trendy and progressive, or creative and fun?

The current U.S. tax system will be a pivotal issue in the 2012 presidential/general elections. Some economists and candidates seeking the GOP presidential nomination suggest scrapping the current tiered payroll/income tax system; some in support of a Fair Tax (a national consumption tax) and others for a Flat (Income) Tax.

As the debate develops, loopholes appear in this Fair Tax proposal. Fairness is doubtful if tax reform requires Americans to pay a singular tax rate on their daily consumption, including rent, beauty care, taxis, utilities and healthcare.

The rich and the poor would pay the same tax. Yet, since the wealthy "one percent" uses less of their income to buy goods and services, compared to the "99 percent" middle and lower income classes, the "one percent" would have an advantage. Some in the extreme lower-income bracket would be left worse off under this reform. Most of the lower bracket earners do not pay income tax and take home all the cash they earned. If this group pays the Fair (consumption) Tax, they would have less cash at their disposal.

"Occupy Wall Street" protestors have been urging commercial bank depositors to close their accounts and join credit unions (CU). With commercial banks charging substantial fees on services and tightening personal and business credit, some people are ready to heed the protestors advice. However, emotion is not a useful guide in making financial decisions.

There are signs some banks are resisting customers' efforts to close accounts, however, one should understand how a CU operates before rushing to switch accounts.

Are CUs really a positive alternative to commercial banks, which with millions of individual and business customers could be really "too big to fail?"

One of the usual criticisms against commercial banks is that they use depositors' money to lend to other people, mainly businesses, while relentlessly imposing fees on the same depositors. While CUs also lend depositors funds, they are membership organizations whose members are, technically, involved in lending decisions.