Listed left to right: Tee Rowe, ASBDC President/CEO; Annie Powell, Constant Contact, Director Regional Development; Israel Serna, 2011 State Star and Michael Chodos, SBA Associate Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13, 2011
Recipient honored at State Star Ceremony during 31st Annual ASBDC Conference
Jesse Torres, Director of the Los Angeles Regional Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, announced that Israel Serna has been selected as the 2011 State Star for the Los Angeles network.
“I am delighted to make this announcement and to recognize Israel Serna for his extraordinary contributions to the work of the Los Angeles network and small businesses in California,” said Torres.
Israel Serna is the Regional Marketing and Events Coordinator at the Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network located at Long Beach City College District. Israel was chosen by the network for being an outstanding performer, making a major contribution to the SBDC program, and showing a strong commitment to small businesses in California.
“I am honored to receive this award,” said Serna “and to have the opportunity every day to assist so many entrepreneurs achieve the dream of starting and succeeding in their own business.”
A special awards reception honoring the ASBDC 2011 State Stars was held on Tuesday, September 6, 2011, in San Diego, California in conjunction with ASBDC’s 31st Annual Conference.
America’s Small Business Development Center (ASBDC) 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 about 1,000 centers across the nation, America’s SBDC network provided business consulting to approximately 200,000 clients, training for more than 400,000 attendees, and other forms of management and technical assistance to approximately 600,000 small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs last year.
The Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network provides free one-on-one business advising and affordable training in areas like business strategy, marketing, financial management and procurement. Whether you’re starting a business or want to take your business to the next level, the SBDCs can help.
2011 Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network Economic Impact Data CYTD:
- Business Start-Ups (143)
- Jobs Created and Retained (1,975)
- Increase in Sales ($59,495,970)
- Number of Entrepreneurs assisted with loan preparation (562)
- Amount of Capital Infusion ($42,869,018)
- Entrepreneurs Advised and Trained (7,073)
Since January 1, 2006, Long Beach Community College District (LBCCD) has been the host for the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network servicing the Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara communities. The SBDC program is the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) most extensive economic development program, helping small businesses create jobs and strengthen local economies. LBCCD as the Lead Center holds the contract with the SBA and contracts with a diverse group of six educational and community development organizations to deliver services to small businesses. For more information, please visit www.smallbizla.org
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