WV SBDC coach Susannah Higgins earns Certified Business Advisor certificate
March 5, 2020Graduate-level program confirms business coaching skills and knowledge CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Susannah Higgins, business coach with the West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC), has completed graduate-level coursework to receive a professional Certified Business Advisor (CBA) certificate. She earned the CBA certification through the accredited Kent State University. “The CBA program is designed specifically for professionals who advise owners of small businesses,” said WV SBDC Director Debra Martin. “The certification says you have proven you have the knowledge, skills and capabilities to advise entrepreneurs effectively. The CBA presents added assurance to our clients and funding partners that...
WV SBDC names Frank Goldsborough Jr. as new business coach serving Morgantown and surrounding counties
February 13, 2020CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Frank Goldsborough Jr. has joined the West Virginia Small Business Development Center as a new business coach in Morgantown, State Director Debra Martin announced. “Frank is a seasoned business professional with first-hand skills in accounting, operations and customer service that will be valuable to West Virginia’s small businesses,” Martin said. He will join WV SBDC Business Coaches Sharon Stratton and Todd Crump in serving the needs of a growing business sector in north central West Virginia. Goldsborough received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration in accounting from West Virginia University in Morgantown....
WV SBDC joins Feb. 5 Innovation Day exhibit, unveils new one-stop kiosk
February 4, 2020CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) will highlight its new Innovation-Technology program during Innovation and Entrepreneurship Day at the West Virginia State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 5. WV SBDC will exhibit with TechConnect West Virginia from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The WV SBDC will use this new program to help entrepreneurs with products driven by innovation or technology. Services include help with planning to launch a new business to applying for Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer financial grants, which are major sources of early-stage capital for technology commercialization....
WV SBDC announces new Innovation-Technology initiative and the launch of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Investment Fund
January 7, 2020CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) has launched a new specialized service called the Innovation-Technology program. “The Innovation-Technology program – or 'In-Tech' for short – will provide business coaching and technical assistance to West Virginia businesses driven to become more competitive by launching a new product or service, or improving the quality of an existing product or service through technology and innovation,” WV SBDC Director Debra Martin said. WV SBDC developed the In-Tech program to assist West Virginia small businesses to develop strategies and mitigate risks around the commercialization of new products, services, and...
Two WV SBDC coaches earn Certified Business Advisor certificates
December 19, 2019Graduate-level program affirms business coaching skills and knowledge CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Two business coaches with the West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) have received Certified Business Advisor (CBA) certificates. WV SBDC Business Coaches Shannon Mitchell and Harold Patterson completed the graduate-level e-learning course through the accredited Kent State University. “The CBA certification shows our WV SBDC coaches have met a high standard of professional achievement. Even more important is what it means for the small businesses who are our clients,” said State Director Debra Martin. “Our clients and funding partners have this added assurance that our...
WV SBDC creates new post to advance digital marketing skills
September 12, 2019Roxy Turner becomes WV SBDC’s first digital marketing specialist CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Small Business Development Center has named Roxy Turner to fill the newly created position of digital marketing specialist, State Director Debra Martin announced today. “Roxy Turner joins WV SBDC as our first digital marketing specialist,” Martin said. “We created this position to advance our digital marketing expertise to the next level. That’s necessary for our mission to equip our West Virginia business clients with the skills and tools they need to succeed.” The services of the new digital specialist will focus on small-business owners who want...
WV SBDC invites small businesses to take survey about needs, challenges
August 9, 2019Online survey ends Aug. 31 CHARLESTON, W.Va. — What do small businesses need to succeed and grow West Virginia? The state’s small-business owners have an opportunity to answer that question in an online survey from the West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC). Business owners can take the survey at wvsbdc.com/survey.html. The survey remains open until midnight, Saturday, Aug. 31. “The survey is an opportunity for business owners to tell the state what’s going on with their business and what they need to step up to the next level of success, “ said WV SBDC State Director Debra Martin....
WV SBDC adds West Virginia native Will Miller as new business coach
August 1, 2019CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Will Miller joins the statewide network of business coaches under the West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC), State Director Debra Martin announced today.W “Will has a solid grounding in marketing and economic development,” Martin said. “With his experience in both private and government sectors, he will be able to hit the ground running to help West Virginia’s small businesses succeed and grow.” Raised in Sissonville in Kanawha County, Miller attended West Virginia University. He attained his Bachelor of Science in marketing and a Master of Business Administration in international business. He has held marketing, sales...
Business Coach Shannon Mitchell receives 2019 WV SBDC State Star award
July 30, 2019CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Business Coach Shannon Mitchell is being honored as West Virginia’s 2019 State Star, announced Debra Martin, state director for the West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC). Mitchell will join a constellation of SBDC State Star honorees from each state who will be recognized during the 39th Annual America’s SBDC Conference, Sept. 3-6, 2019, in Long Beach, California. 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 business. “Shannon brings real-world experience and understanding to her position as...
Corduroy Inn kicks off expansion with groundbreaking ceremony at Snowshoe
July 29, 2019SNOWSHOE, W.Va. - The Corduroy Inn hosts a groundbreaking ceremony Monday, July 29, at 3 p.m. to officially launch the facility's expansion, at Snowshoe Mountain Resort. The event will take place at the build site next to the Inn, followed by refreshments and hors d'oeuvre served inside Corduroy Inn. The inn, located within the Snowshoe ski resort, will remain open during the expansion. The estimated completion date is November 2020, in time for the 2020/2021 ski season. The upscale boutique hotel currently offers 12 guest suites. The new structure will add approximately 37,000 square feet with a combination of lodging...