12/8/10
Local Small Business Advisor Honored Columbus, Ohio - Kathryn Goon, Certified Business Advisor for the Braintree Small Business Development Center, has been awarded the Collaboration Award by the network of Small Business Development Centers of Ohio. She was one of seven individuals and eight Centers statewide to be recognized by the network. Kathryn Goon's award was presented at a recent ceremony that recognized the accomplishments of Ohio's Small Business Development Centers' staff members, who help small business owners and entrepreneurs throughout the state access the support services needed to grow and thrive. "The award recipients were recognized and commended for their exemplary performance in exceeding their counseling, training, and economic impact goals, and their outstanding work in the areas of advocacy, collaboration, innovation, marketing, mentoring, and academic excellence in continuing professional development," said Karen Shauri, State Director of the Small Business Development Centers. Awards are based on objective criteria ranging from exceeding performance goals to peer recognition. The Ohio Small Business Development Center statewide network was created in 1985 through a partnership between the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Ohio Department of Development. The program fosters a strong climate for small business growth with many local community partners, including colleges and universities, economic development agencies, chambers of commerce, and other community organizations. Each of the Ohio's 39 Small Business Development Centers is staffed by Certified Business Advisors® who provide free, confidential, in-depth one-on-one counseling, e-counseling, training, quality-based assessments, and technical assistance. In 2009, the state's Certified Business Advisors counseled more than 8,400 entrepreneurs and conducted classes for nearly 14,000 Ohio small business owners. Based on jobs created and retained as a result of the network's services, its impact on Ohio's economy was more than $21 billion. The Small Business Development Center program is hosted by the Entrepreneurship and Small Business Division of the Ohio Department of Development. For more information about the Small Business Development Centers or to find the nearest Center, visit http://development.ohio.gov/Entrepreneurship/. To make an appointment with Kathryn Goon, please call 419-525-1614 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Working with partners across business, state and local governments, academia, and the nonprofit sector, the Ohio Department of Development works to attract, create, grow, and retain businesses through competitive incentives and targeted investments. Engaged everyday in marketing, innovating, investing, and collaborating, the Ohio Department of Development works at the speed of business to accelerate and support the teamwork that is necessary for success by providing financial, informational, and technical assistance to those making an investment in Ohio's future.