Janet Graham -- SBDC State Star

WINTHROP REGIONAL SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
Announces Selection of Janet Graham As SC State Star

Pictured, left to right: Jerry Silverman, CEO and Founder, Corporate Turnaround, sponsor of the ASBDC State Star Reception; Jerry Cartwright, Chair, ASBDC 2009 Board of Directors and State Director of the Florida SBDC Network; Theresa Singleton, Deputy District Director of the SC office of the Small Business Administration; Larry J. Stevens, Winthrop Regional SBDC Director; Janet Graham; and Antonio Doss, Associate Administrator for the US Small Business Administration's Office of Small Business Development Centers.

Larry Stevens, Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) located at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, announced that Janet Graham has been selected as the 2009 State Star of the South Carolina SBDC. Graham is Area Manager of the Coastal Area SBDC located at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC.

“I am pleased to make this announcement, and to recognize Ms. Graham for her extraordinary contributions to the work of the SBDC and small businesses in South Carolina,” said Stevens. “She was chosen by the South Carolina SBDC for being an exemplary performer, making a significant contribution to the SC SBDC program, and showing a strong commitment to small business in the Conway/Myrtle Beach area. I’m proud to have her represent our Winthrop SBDC Region.”

The Winthrop Regional SBDC and the Coastal Area SBDC are a part of America’s Small Business Development Center (ASBDC) Network, a partnership uniting private enterprise, government, higher education and local nonprofit economic development organizations. It is the Small Business Administration’s largest partnership program, providing free counseling, workshops, and management and technical assistance to help Americans start, run and grow their own businesses. With about 1,000 centers across the nation, America’s SBDC network provided business consulting to approximately 200,000 clients, training for more than 400,000 attendees, and other forms of management and technical assistance to approximately 600,000 small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs last year.

“It is an honor to accept this award,” said Graham, “and to have the opportunity to help so many people achieve their entrepreneurial dreams.”

Persons in the coastal area of South Carolina who are interested in receiving business start-up consultation or help in developing business plans should contact Janet Graham at the Coastal Area SBDC, (843) 349-4010 or visit the Coastal Area SBDC web site for more information, www.coastal.edu/sbdc.

New Workshop for Entrepreneurs

Starting a business is a bit like making a puzzle ...... if you don't have all the pieces, it just doesn't look right, and will never be what you imagined. Come let us help you find the missing pieces in your small business!


We have a workshop coming up on Monday, August 10th, 6-8 p.m. -- "How to Start A Small Business." It's free and open to anyone in the general area of York County, SC who would like to attend (Charlotte, NC area residents are also welcome -- we know how convenient the Winthrop University campus is for some of you).

We'll talk about what you need to start a business, give you a template to create your own business plan as well as other materials, and get you started in the process. If you already have a business you'd like to expand, but have never done a business plan or tried to get expansion funds, this workshop is for you, too. A good business plan is at the heart of every growing business .... big or small.

If you'd like to attend, click here to pre-register online -- the workshop will be held in Room 212 of the Thurmond Building (College of Business) on Winthrop's campus. From Cherry Road, go to Oakland Avenue -- from Oakland, turn into the campus at the main gate at the Eden Terrace intersection. As you go right around the circle, Thurmond will be the 2nd building on your right -- go up the main front stairs to Room 212.

Hope to see you there!!