Campus Connection

[caption id="attachment_12484" align="alignnone" width="770" caption="U.S. Small Business Administration Regional Administrator Marianne O’Brien Markowitz presented the Small Business Development Center with the Small Business Development Center Service Excellence Award for the Midwest region and for Wisconsin June 7 at the Cleary Alumni & Friends Center. From left, Maureen Spencer, SBDC; Marie Rieber, SBDC; O'Brien Markowitz; SBDC Director Anne Hlavacka; Joe Chilsen, SBDC; Vickie Bain, SBDC; and Eric Ness, Wis. Small Business Administration."][/caption]

Small Business Development Center cited for state, regional excellence

The Small Business Development Center at UW-La Crosse is being recognized regionally and statewide for excellence in promoting business. The center has received the Small Business Development Center Service Excellence Award for the Midwest region and for Wisconsin. As the Midwest regional winner, the center ranked the highest among centers in Region 5 of the Small Business Administration, which along with Wisconsin includes Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. “We’re very humbled and honored to receive such prestigious awards,” says UW-L SBDC Director Anne Hlavacka. “These awards pay tribute to our excellent staff in the center who enjoy working with businesses to help them grow in western Wisconsin and beyond.” Along with Hlavacka, UW-L’s SBDC staff includes Stephen Woessner, Vickie Bain, Marie Rieber, Joe Chilsen and Maureen Spencer. In addition to the UW-L Center being honored, a program affiliated with the center received additional recognition. Sue Noble, executive director of the Vernon Economic Development Association, was selected the state and regional winner of the Home Based Business Champion award. Small Business Administration Regional Administrator Marianne O’Brien Markowitz presented the awards at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 7, at the Cleary Alumni & Friends Center. UW-L’s SBDC offers broad support, specialized expertise and leadership in developing access to international markets for Wisconsin businesses. The Center provides one-on-one small business counseling, classes, networking events and access to numerous development groups including the Inventors and Entrepreneurs Clubs and the 7 Rivers Alliance. The awards recognized the Center’s role in developing access to international markets. The Center offers the Certified Global Business Professional Series, which trains businesses on import and export issues. The Center also helped global initiatives through a partnership with the UW-L College of Business Administration in hosting a Chinese delegation in summer 2011. The SGDC is part of the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center Network, which is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, with matching funds from the UW System. Get complete details at: http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/3/3074/news/135371.