Small Business Center rated top in five states

Photo provided by RANDY BERGERON -- The Southeastern Louisiana University Small Business Development Center received the Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award. Serving on the Southeastern team are, from left, Ginger Cangelosi, business continuity consultant; Scott Uffman, sales consultant; Director William Joubert; Wayne Ricks, senior business consultant; Steven Baham, business consultant; and Assistant Director Sandy Summers.

Advocate staff report

The Louisiana Small Business Development Center at Southeastern Louisiana University was recognized as the top center in a five-state region that includes Louisiana at an awards reception May 15 at the Governor’s Mansion.

The SBDC Excellence and Innovation Award is given annually to the program that demonstrates excellence in improving value to small businesses and advancing program delivery and management through innovation.

After being named the top center of the year out of 10 centers in the state, the SLU SBDC was nominated for the SBA Region VI Award. Region VI covers Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The achievement ranks the SLU center among the top 10 SBDCs in the nation for 2012.

“This is a well-deserved recognition of the entire team and exceptional work with small businesses and entrepreneurs in southeast Louisiana,” BDC State Director Mary Lynn Wilkerson said.

She said the center’s productivity, professionalism and dedication to entrepreneurship have been noted by the community, clients, resources partners, media and many others who have worked with the SLU group.

It is the second time the center has received the top state award and its first regional award.

Other staff members honored at the award ceremony were Assistant Director Sandy Summers and consultants Wayne Ricks, Steven Baham, Ginger Cangelosi and Scott Uffman.

The center -- which serves the five-parish region of Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes -- has assembled a team of high quality business consultants and a deep network of resources, university officials said. Since 2008, the center has served more than 1,760 clients and trained more than 4,200 individuals, they said. The team helped clients create 2,027 jobs and save 612, secure more than $217 million in capital, start 108 new businesses and increase sales by $100 million, official said.