UHV SBDC staff members earn business development certifications
Six University of Houston-Victoria Small Business Development Center staff members recently earned professional certifications that enhance the services offered to local businesses.
"Our business advisors understand the importance of being knowledgeable about the latest trends in the small business industry," SBDC Director Joe Humphreys said. "They have worked hard to earn these certifications so that they can provide the best service to small business owners in this region."
SBDC business advisors who received certification are:
- Humphreys, recertified as Business Advisor, Level IV
- Kacey Lindemann Butler, Business Advisor, Level IV
- Lindsay Young, Business Advisor, Level III
- Brian Cunningham, Business Advisor, Level II
- Mark Martinez, Business Advisor, Level I
In addition, SBDC senior secretary Whitney Schroeder was certified as an Administrative Professional.
SBDC staff members were awarded their certifications at a recent regional SBDC directors' meeting in San Antonio.
The business advisor certification has four certified business advisor levels. Each level requires an increased competency in business counseling, training, professional development and helping small businesses grow.
The certifications are administered by the South-West Texas Border SBDC Network, which provides consulting and technical assistance to 10 field offices located throughout a 79-county region. In 1995, the South-West Texas Border SBDC Network instituted the peer review-based certification program that provides a professional development structure for local SBDC business advisors and administrative staff.
Each certified business advisor must go through a lengthy process to receive certification. A college degree, professional development hours, long-term clients, client impact goals and positive feedback are reviewed to determine if certification is awarded.
The UHV SBDC offers assistance on starting, growing and financing a business; contracting opportunities; and recovering from disaster. Most of its services are free to area small business owners in Aransas, Bee, Calhoun, DeWitt, Gonzales, Goliad, Jackson, Karnes, Lavaca, Refugio and Victoria counties. It is part of a nationwide small business assistance program serving the small business community and federal, state and local governments.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
