01:00 AM EDT on Saturday, April 15, 2006

One of the business people picked by The Providence Journal as a 2006 Business Up & Comer, has been chosen by the U.S. Small Business Administration as its Rhode Island Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Charles Kroll, president of Providence-based Andera Inc., is a 28-year-old executive who started his technology company at the age of 22. Andera develops software that allows customers to quickly and easily open new bank accounts over the Internet without having to go to a bank branch. Customers never know they are using Andera's product, all they see is the bank's Web site.

The SBA's Rhode Island office also chose Kathleen Jennings, president of Blue Sky Spaworks & Gallery. Jennings used an SBA guaranteed loan to expand her Warwick gallery into a 4,800-square-foot facility with 35 employees, according to a statement by the SBA.

The award winners will be honored at a lunch May 10 at the Quidnessett Country Club in North Kingstown. Every year since 1963, the U.S. president has set aside a week to honor the nation's small-business community.

In addition to the local awards, the SBA national office has chosen Citizens Financial Group of Rhode Island as one of the Export Lenders of the Year.

This year's other SBA award winners include: Anthony DeMarco III, president of Eastland Food Products in Cranston, the Jeffrey H. Butland Family-owned Business of the Year; Frank Coletta, WJAR-TV, SBA Rhode Island District Director Award; Marion Gilipp, CEO of Ballard's Inn, Knight Award of Entrepreneurial Excellence; Joseph Hindle, vice president of Bank Rhode Island, Finanical Services Champion; Sixcia Devine, small-business training and development specialist, Center for Women & Enterprise, Women in Business Champion; Karriem K. Kanston, business development specialist, Coastway Credit Union, Minority Small Business Champion.