2003 State Star
[2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005]FOR RELEASE - October 23, 2003
JOHN DONOVAN, BUTTE, NAMED SBDC 'MONTANA STATE STAR' 2003
Award Recognizes 'Exemplary Performance', Commitment
Helena, MT â€" October 23, 2003 â€" John Donovan, Director of the Butte Small Business Development Center (SBDC), has been named the 2003 Montana "State Star" by his peers in the statewide SBDC network. He was recognized at the national conference of the Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) in San Diego, California earlier this month. The ASBDC represents over 1000 SBDC centers across the country.
The Butte SBDC is one of ten statewide SBDC offices that are overseen by the Montana Department of Commerce. The SBDC program is funded by a partnership between the U.S. Small Business Administration, Montana Department of Commerce, and local host organizations.
The SBDC center is hosted by the Southwest Montana Headwaters RC & D office, located in Butte. As SBDC Director for a seven-county region, Donovan tailors SBDC services to start-up and existing small business owners in Beaverhead, Deer Lodge, Granite, Jefferson, Madison, Powell, and Silver Bow counties by providing one-on-one counseling and training.
Judie Tilman, Headwaters RC&D Coordinator, credits the success of the program in southwest Montana to Donovan's commitment and dedication. She noted that "John is always willing to exert extra effort on his clients behalf."
Donovan has been part of the SBDC since January 1997, and has helped nearly 900 businesses and entrepreneurs, and assisted them in securing over $12 million in financing. Nearly 300 regional jobs have been created or retained with the assistance of the Butte SBDC.
Prior to becoming Director of the Butte SBDC, Donovan was in a management position with Washington Construction in Missoula and a business consultant with Metro Business Associates in Billings. He holds a Master of Science in Business Administration from the University of Montana, Missoula and a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Western Montana College, Dillon.
