The Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) has announced that Michelle Collins, business advisor at the Canton Small Business Development Center in Canton New York, has been selected as the 2003 State Star of the New York Small Business Development Center (SBDC) network. The Canton SBDC is a part of SUNY Canton.
“I am pleased to make this announcement, and to recognize Michelle Collins for extraordinary contributions to the New York SBDC and to small business in New York,” said ASBDC President Don Wilson.
The New York SBDC is honoring Collins for her outstanding work helping New Yorkers start and maintain their small businesses. “Michelle Collins has made many significant contributions to the New York SBDC program,” said Bert Corey, Director of the Canton SBDC. “She displays a strong commitment to small business in upstate New York and to the economic development of the region.”
A native of Norwood, Collins was one of the first business advisers hired at the SUNY Canton Regional Center. The Center was established in October 1998 as a result of the efforts of State Senator James Wright and SUNY Canton President Dr. Joseph Kennedy.
Over the last four-and-a-half years, she has counseled more than 800 clients in the areas of business startup and management. She has earned SBDC Certified Business Adviser status and conducted numerous educational workshops for the small business community in St. Lawrence County. Star Performers are selected based in part on consistently high evaluations provided by clients served.
“It is an honor to accept this award,” said Collins, “and to have the opportunity to help so many people achieve the dream of starting and succeeding in their own businesses.” She will receive her award as part of the ASBDC Annual Convention held this year in San Diego in late September.
America’s Small Business Development Center Network is 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 management and technical assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their own businesses. With more than 1,000 centers across the nation, the SBDC network assists about 600,000 small businesses every year in face-to-face counseling and training.
Founded in 1984, the New York SBDC—administered by the State University of New York (SUNY) with 23 offices located on SUNY campuses and the campuses of SUNY’s educational partners, including CUNY and private universities-- has helped over 200,000 New Yorkers locate over $2.2 billion in private and public funding for their businesses.
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