(left to right) James Lambright, Ex-Im Bank chairman & president; Grace Davis, founder & president of Omega Environmental Technologies

DALLAS – Omega Environmental Technologies, a manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket mobile air conditioning parts, was named 2007 Small Business Exporter of the Year by the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank).

“We’re truly honored that Ex-Im Bank has selected Omega for this prestigious award,” said Grace Davis, president of Omega Environmental Technologies. “Our team is dedicated to providing the highest level of service to customers all over the world, so we are especially pleased that their hard work is being recognized by this institution.”

Omega was selected from the 2,200 small-to-mid size companies that work with the Ex-Im Bank to export goods throughout the world.

The company has been working with Margareth Fanini at Comerica Bank, but needed additional, non-traditional lines of credit for continued growth. In 2003, Davis and Fanini approached Ex-Im Bank in an effort to increase Omega’s export sales through a working capital guarantee. Since then, Omega’s sales have increased 52 percent, from $30 million in 2003 to $46 million in 2006. The company projects sales of $52 million in 2007.

“Since its inception, Omega has developed a diverse, world-wide client base, and we currently export to more than 87 countries,” Davis said. “That diversity is also reflected by the Omega team, which represents 14 nationalities.”

Davis, a naturalized U.S. citizen, served as manager of international money for various International banks in her native Panama before coming to the United States in 1984. She started Auto Air Export in April 1989, and by October of that year she signed a joint venture agreement with J. Gerber & CO. and started doing business as Omega Environmental Technologies. In 1997, Davis bought back the shares for 100 percent ownership.