The WV SBDC celebrates four small business winners this year during small business week
May 23, 2023https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GATbt9S6e7M CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) and Small Business Administration (SBA) WV District Office officials celebrated 2023 Small Business Week Award winners on May 3 at the Robert H. Mollohan Research Center in Fairmont, WV. “National Small Business Week gives SBA the platform to highlight and brag on the nation’s 33.2 million small businesses. Not only are they the backbone of our economy, creating two thirds of net new jobs, but they are also the heart and soul, supporting the communities and making them a more vibrant place to live and work.” said...
Bridging Innovation Week 2023 Exceeds Expectations
May 16, 2023CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Bridging Innovation Week, the premier entrepreneurship event in West Virginia, recently concluded with resounding success. The event, which took place from April 17 to April 20, 2023 at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, West Virginia, attracted a record-breaking number of attendees and received overwhelmingly positive feedback from all involved. “This week really drove home the commitment of stakeholders across the state in building the state’s ecosystem,” said Amber Ravenscroft, Co-Chair. “It was a testament to the growing momentum around entrepreneurship-led economic development in the Mountain State.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOYpm3kLHD4 This video was produced by Commerce Communications Over the course of four...
SBA announces the 2023 small business week winners
April 11, 2023CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC), joined by Small Business Administration (SBA) WV District Office officials, is honoring clients who received 2023 Small Business Week Awards. “The WV SBDC is very proud of the success of all of our clients and the vital role that small business plays in our economy. We are honored to play a part in recognizing the great work these award winners are doing in WV and pledge to continue working to support small business growth and success across our great state.”, said Steve D. Johnson, State Director of the West...
Mark Burdette of WV BusinessLink featured on the Daily304’s Innovators and Entrepreneurs and Positively WV Podcasts
March 1, 2023Check out this week's episode of Innovators and Entrepreneurs! Our very own Mark Burdette, the program coordinator for West Virginia BusinessLink was featured on this week's episode! Also, check out Mark's sit down interview with Jim Matuga, Host of the Positively WV podcast for a more in depth discussion about WV BusinessLink. West Virginia BusinessLink is a supportive platform that connects entrepreneurs and small business owners to a network of local, regional, and statewide resource partners to foster innovation, growth, and prosperity. West Virginia BusinessLink provides access to a network of over 150+ regional and statewide resources tailored specifically for...
WV SBDC names Mark Burdette as program coordinator for West Virginia BusinessLink
December 20, 2022CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC), a division of the West Virginia Department of Economic Development, is excited to announce Mark D. Burdette as the new program coordinator for West Virginia BusinessLink. In this position, Burdette will oversee and promote West Virginia BusinessLink, a one-stop, online platform for entrepreneurs and business owners, including existing businesses, start-ups and aspiring entrepreneurs, for resources in the state. Before joining the West Virginia Department of Economic Development with WV SBDC, Burdette worked in the private sector as co-founder of Citynet, along with starting and growing many other small businesses...
WV SBDC Names Bret Chandler as New Business Coach for the Charleston Area
November 28, 2022CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) has named Bret Chandler as a new business coach for the Charleston area. In the role, Chandler will draw on his three decades of experience as an entrepreneur and executive to help small business owners and entrepreneurs grow. Chandler holds a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Accounting from Marshall University. “Bret has valuable first-hand experience as a successful executive and entrepreneur,” Steve Johnson, director of WV SBDC, said. “Combined with his strong work ethic, he is fully committed to helping ensure...
WV SBDC Names Steve Roberts as New Business Coach for the Northern Panhandle
November 28, 2022CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) has named Steve Roberts as a new business coach for the Northern Panhandle. Roberts has a diverse background of leadership roles in manufacturing, construction, energy, market development, project management, real estate, entrepreneurship, business consulting and workforce development. Throughout his career, he has had the opportunity to lead on the local, regional, and global levels. Previous roles have given him the opportunity to work closely with the West Virginia Department of Economic Development and many advocacy groups to promote downstream shale gas development in the region. Roberts serves as the...
SBDC Business Coach Doug Spaulding Receives 2022 WV SBDC State Star Award
August 31, 2022CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Business Coach Doug Spaulding is being honored as West Virginia’s 2022 State Star, announced Steve Johnson, state director for the West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC). Spaulding joins the ranks of honorees from each state who were announced in August 2022. America’s SBDC will be celebrating all the outstanding SBDC employees from each network at the 42nd annual conference, September 6-9th, 2022 at the Marriott Marquis in San Diego, CA. The criteria for State Stars include being an exemplary performer, making a significant contribution to their state or SBDC program, and showing a strong commitment to small businesses....
WV SBDC Names Carol Goolsby as New Business Coach for the Eastern Region
August 15, 2022CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) has named Carol Goolsby as a new business coach for the Eastern Region. Goolsby will use her unique blend of professional experience in private, public, and nonprofit sectors, and higher education to help small business owners and entrepreneurs grow. A former small business owner, Goolsby offers a well-rounded perspective in business leadership. Goolsby holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a bachelor’s degree in Business Education. Goolsby is currently a professor at Shepherd University. “Her experience in higher education drives her passion to educate, empower, and mentor future...
Will Miller Named New Deputy Director of West Virginia Small Business Development Center
July 28, 2022CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Today, the West Virginia Small Business Development Center announces Will Miller as the new Deputy Director. Miller has spent the last three years as a business coach for the WVSBDC in the Charleston office. While in this position, he became a Certified Business Advisor through Kent State University. Miller holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Master of Business Administration in International Business from West Virginia University. He has worked in sales, marketing, and management for small businesses here in the Mountain State and in the DC Metro area. Prior to Miller’s time with the SBDC,...