The West Virginia Small Business Development Center partners with Verizon to offer an online training platform and a grant opportunity for West Virginia small businesses
February 24, 2026Charleston, W.Va. — The West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) recently announced its plan to help bring a new online training platform, Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, to entrepreneurs across the state. In partnership with Next Street and LISC, the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready online curriculum equips small businesses with the tools they need to thrive in today's digital economy. Any small business can register online at bit.ly/WVSBDC-Verizon-Training for free, with no Verizon commitment required. Course categories include financial health, workplace culture, digital marketing, legal and security, and business strategy. “Providing small business owners with support, connecting...
West Virginia Small Business Development Center Coaches Strengthen Technical Support with National AI U Certification
January 22, 2026Charleston, W.Va. – As artificial intelligence (AI) adoption rates climb and small businesses search for ways to be more efficient, the West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) aims to stay current in this rapidly changing technological landscape. The WV SBDC is pleased to share that its entire team of business coaches have successfully completed America's SBDC “AI U” training and received professional certification in artificial intelligence. Developed by America’s SBDC in partnership with Google.org, the certification program provides foundational AI training specifically tailored for the needs of small businesses. The curriculum focuses on leveraging AI tools for small business growth...
Mark Burdette Named New International Economic Development Council Board Member
December 22, 2025CHARLESTON, WVa. – The West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC), a division of the WV Division of Economic Development, and the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) are proud to announce that Mark Burdette, Deputy Director of the WV SBDC and Network Builder of WV BusinessLink, has been appointed to the IEDC Board of Directors for a two-year term, starting on January 1, 2026. The nomination was approved at IEDC’s 2025 Annual Conference in Detroit, Mich. “We are thrilled to welcome Mark Burdette to IEDC’s 2026 Board of Directors. Mark’s experience and commitment to the economic development profession have prepared...
All West Virginia Small Business Development Center Business Coaches Now Cybersecurity Certified
December 1, 2025Charleston, W.Va. – With cybersecurity threats to small businesses on the rise — reports have shown that, approximately 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses, with incidents occurring approximately every 11 seconds — the West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) is proud to announce that all 17 of the organization’s highly-skilled business coaches have successfully completed the North Star Cybersecurity Certification Training Program. This program is specifically designed to educate SBDCs and other Small Business Association (SBA) resource partners on the principles of cybersecurity, including phishing; password security; malware; software updates; data security and privacy; standards and frameworks; cyber...
Leah Bowes Appointed Network Navigator for West Virginia Small Business Development Center
November 13, 2025Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) is pleased to announce Leah Bowes as its new Network Navigator. In this role, Bowes will provide a direct link between services within the WV SBDC network and connections to WV Entrepreneurship Ecosystem via WV BusinessLink to entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout the state. Originally from Greenbrier County, Bowes has a broad knowledge of communications practices and problem solving skills gleaned from more than a decade of experience supporting statewide programs and communications. She previously served as an administrative assistant for the West Virginia School of Osteopathic...
West Virginia Small Business Development Center Business Coach Beth Fish Earns Business Advisor Certification
November 10, 2025CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) Business Coach Beth Fish has completed the Certified Business Advisor (CBA) program at Kent State University. The CBA program is a professional certification designed to equip advisors with in-depth knowledge and skills to effectively support small business owners. The program covers key areas such as finance, accounting, marketing and human resources, enabling graduates to provide comprehensive guidance in business development, strategic planning and financial management. “I’m honored to have completed the Certified Business Advisor program through Kent State University,” Fish said. “This training has strengthened my ability to support small...
The West Virginia Small Business Development Center names Dawn Nolan as new Network Communicator
October 30, 2025Charleston, W.Va. — The West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) is pleased to announce that Dawn Nolan has joined the team as Network Communicator. Nolan will lead strategic communications for both the WV SBDC and WV BusinessLink, promoting the WV SBDC’s statewide mission of empowering entrepreneurs and small business owners through impactful messaging. A Huntington native and Marshall University graduate, Nolan has more than a decade of professional experience in communications, marketing and public relations, much of which has been for small businesses and nonprofit organizations. She is also an established features writer whose work is regularly published in...
West Virginia SBDC Business Coach Marsa Myers named State Star
September 18, 2025CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) Business Coach Marsa Myers recently attended the America’s SBDC Annual Training Event in Atlanta, Georgia, where she was named West Virginia’s 2025 State Star award winner. Pictured: (From left) Mark Burdette, WV SBDC Deputy Director, Marsa Myers, West Virginia’s 2024 State Star award winner, and Will Miller, WV SBDC Director “Marsa exemplifies everything that makes an excellent state star,” said WV SBDC Director Will Miller. “She continually is going above and beyond in her work and is always willing to lend a hand to anyone who may need one....
Beth Fish Named Business Coach for WV SBDC Oak Hill Center
August 22, 2025Serving Braxton, Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Summers, and Webster Counties Oak Hill, WV — The West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) is proud to announce that Beth Fish has been appointed as the new Business Coach for the Oak Hill Center, where she will serve entrepreneurs and small business owners across eight counties: Braxton, Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Summers and Webster. Fish joined the WV SBDC in May 2021 as a Business Navigator, quickly becoming a valued resource for startups and existing businesses throughout the region. Most recently, she served as the agency’s Special Projects Coordinator,...
The WV SBDC names Lyla Grandstaff as new business coach serving the Buckhannon area
July 11, 2025CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) announces Lyla Grandstaff as the new business coach for the Buckhannon area, serving Barbour, Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Randolph, Upshur and Webster counties. Grandstaff has experience in sales, marketing and higher education administration, and is a certified business etiquette consultant. A graduate of Fairmont State University and West Virginia University, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and a Master of Arts degree in Corporate and Organizational Communication. “We are excited to welcome Lyla to the WV SBDC team. Her extensive experience will make her an excellent...