Kane County Reporter

State Representative Dan Ugaste announced that the "National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has presented State Representative Dan Ugaste with its 2024 Guardian of Small Business Award." He made this announcement in a Facebook post on September 11.

"The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has presented State Representative Dan Ugaste with its 2024 Guardian of Small Business Award (Guardian Award," said Ugaste, according to Facebook. "This award recognizes leaders who stand up for and advocate on behalf of small businesses. He earned a 100 percent voting record with NFIB for the 2023-2024 legislative session. Rep. Ugaste was selected for the award by a panel of small business owners from across the state."

The NFIB confirmed the award in a news release on September 12. The award, known as "The Guardian," is the organization’s most prestigious legislative honor. According to the NFIB, Rep. Ugaste earned a 100% voting record with the organization for the 2023-2024 legislative session.

Screenshot of State Rep. Dan Ugaste's Sept. 11 Facebook post | State Representative Dan Ugaste's Facebook page

"Rep. Ugaste is a proven friend of small business. As the minority spokesperson of the House Labor & Commerce Committee, he consistently advocates for small businesses and pushes his fellow legislators to consider the impact of new laws and regulations upon Illinois’ Main Street community," said Noah Finley, Illinois State Director for NFIB, in the September 12 news release.

The Guardian of Small Business award is presented to legislators who vote with small businesses on key issues 70% or more of the time during the previous year’s Congress. According to the NFIB, Ugaste joins state and national politicians who received the award in 2022, including Representative Mike Bost (IL-12), Representative Rodney Davis (IL-13), Representative Mary Miller (IL-15), Representative Adam Kinzinger (IL-16), and Representative Darin LaHood (IL-18).

"I am humbled and honored to receive this award from NFIB. I will always be a strong advocate for small businesses, and I will continue to push for legislation in Springfield that puts their best interests first," said Ugaste in the September 12 news release from NFIB.

Dan Ugaste has represented Illinois' 65th House District since 2018. He is a former attorney and shareholder at Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie & Lowry, where he focused on workers' compensation defense and related litigation. Ugaste has served as President of the Lake Forest College Alumni Board and held leadership roles in various bar associations and committees. He graduated from Lake Forest High School and Lake Forest College and holds a Juris Doctorate degree from DePaul University, according to his official biography.