2002 State Star
[2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005]FOR RELEASE - September 5, 2002
KENT WOOD, BOZEMAN, NAMED SBDC 'MONTANA STATE STAR' 2002
Award Recognizes 'Exemplary Performance', Commitment
Helena, MT â€" August 20, 2002 â€" Kent Wood, Director of the Bozeman Small Business Development Center has been named the Montana 'State Star' 2002 by the Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC). The Montana Department of Commerce oversees the ten-office statewide SBDC network.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my work at the SBDC over the past five years," said Wood. "There is so much variety in working with individuals who want to start a business, all the way to working with companies who've been operating for over 20 years. In the morning I might work with the owner of a high-tech software company, and that afternoon I might help someone who is starting a day-care business."
"Key to any business success is for the businessperson to be armed with the appropriate mix of managerial, planning and marketing proficiencies," said Ann Desch, Montana Department of Commerce State Director, Small Business Development Center. "By providing access to training and technical assistance as well as professional counselors at the local level, we can effectively serve Montana's existing small business base while nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs."
As SBDC subcenter Director for the Bozeman region, Wood tailored the subcenter's services to existing small business owners in Gallatin and Park counties while providing one-on-one counseling and training opportunities to entrepreneurial-hopefuls. He expanded the services offered by offering SBA 504 packaging and NxLeveL Entrepreneur instruction. The SBDC subcenter is located in the Gallatin Development Corporation office.
In the last two years the Bozeman SBDC has helped over 450 businesses and assisted them in securing over $7.2 million in financing. Over 200 area jobs have been created or retained.
Prior to becoming Director of the Bozeman SBDC, Wood spent three years as Director of the Colstrip subcenter that he helped start to promote, stimulate and diversify the economy of southeastern Montana. He holds a Master of Arts in Economic Development from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics/Political Science from the University of Wyoming, Laramie.
