Contact: Kaia Fowler, Program Manager
Phone: 608-263-7805
Email: kristina.fowler@uwex.edu
Madison, Wis. – Mary Wescott, business counselor with the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, has been announced as the 2013 Wisconsin SBDC State Star. State Stars are exemplary performers who have made significant contributions to their state SBDC programs and have demonstrated a strong commitment to small businesses. Wescott was recognized, along with other State Stars, at the 33rd Annual Conference of America’s Small Business Development Centers in Orlando, Fla. on September 9.
“Working alongside entrepreneurs is inspirational,” said Wescott. “They work long hours and show great commitment in starting and building their businesses. They are vital to a growing economy.”
Hosted through University of Wisconsin-Extension at four-year UW campuses statewide, SBDCs work with business owners and entrepreneurs to facilitate business growth, improve business performance and launch successful new companies. Last year, Wescott advised 115 business owners and entrepreneurs, assisting with 20 business starts and creation of 53 jobs.
Vicki Lobermeier, Director of the SBDC at UW-Stevens Point, said, “Wescott has been advising would-be and existing business owners for the SBDC for 15 years. Her outstanding performance helped the Stevens Point SBDC office generate over 2,300 hours of advising and 210 clients last year. Through her expertise, skills, and steadfast dedication, Mary makes a key contribution to the area’s economic development.”
“The SBDC State Star Award has a long tradition of recognizing excellence in individual performance and contribution to our mission of furthering small business success,” said Mark Lange, Interim State Director of the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center. “Mary’s efforts to foster business startup through the Entrepreneurial Training Program and her services to companies statewide through the GIS trade area mapping program have made a significant impact in Wisconsin. We are pleased to celebrate her importance to our SBDC program with this award.”
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About Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
The Wisconsin Small Business Development Center works with business owners and entrepreneurs to facilitate business growth, improve business performance and launch successful new companies throughout Wisconsin. Through low-cost education, no-cost advising and strategic facilitation, SBDC experts at regional centers serve as guides for small business success. One-on-one confidential assistance is available to companies with up to 499 employees. The Wisconsin SBDC is hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Extension and is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. www.wisconsinsbdc.org
About America’s Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC)
America’s Small Business Development Center Network is the most comprehensive small business assistance network in the United States and its territories. The mission of the network is to help new entrepreneurs realize their dream of business ownership and to assist existing businesses to remain competitive in the complex marketplace of an ever-changing global economy. Hosted by leading universities, colleges and state economic development agencies, and funded in part through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, approximately 1,000 service centers are available to provide no-cost business consulting and low-cost training. More than one million businesses are assisted by America’s SBDC member programs each year. A sizeable number of them are in the dynamic start-up mode, while a majority are existing businesses searching for stability or planning for growth. http://www.asbdc-us.org
