Cornell to help lead the SBDC network which covers Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties

LOS ANGELES – Carol Cornell has joined the nation’s 7th largest funded Small Business Development Center Network as the new Associate Regional Director overseeing 7 service centers and more than 30 satellite offices, throughout Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. Cornell will be based at the Lead Center, which is hosted by the Long Beach Community College District. The Lead Center holds the contract with the SBA and administers and operates the region’s SBDC program.

“Carol’s expertise, career experience and background with the SBDCs will definitely be an asset to the team. We welcome her to Long Beach City College.” said Lou Anne Bynum, Vice-President, Office of Economic & Resource Development at Long Beach City College.

“We are excited to bring Carol back to Southern California as part of the leadership team for the Los Angeles SBDC Regional Network,” said Jesse Torres, Regional Director, Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network.  “Her extensive and hands-on experience in working with business owners and in developing strong systems and processes for small business assistance is a boon for the Network.” added Torres.

Cornell joins the Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network after serving as Director for Northern Kentucky University SBDC. Carol has senior management experience of 20+ years offering strategic value creation through the design, communication and implementation of integrated growth and/or change at the business unit, division and corporate levels. She has a proven track record with the development and execution of annual and long-term revenue plans in for-profit and not-for-profit entities, small and large businesses, private and public sectors and government contract activities. Her expertise includes related work in the following fields: engineering, automotive, retail, medical and pharmaceuticals, and various government agencies.

Cornell holds a M.B.A. in Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management from the Anderson School at UCLA. She is also an alumnus of California State University Fullerton where she received a Joint Studies B.A. with a concentration in Entrepreneurial Advocacy. She is the recipient of the 1999 National Small Business Institute Director’s Case of the Year Award from the Small Business Institute Director’s Association (SBIDA).

“Empowering small businesses and supporting effective entrepreneurship is at the heart of the work of the SBDC program. Our ability to help small business owners increase their capacity for success excites me daily – it is a challenge that I take very personally.” says Carol Cornell, Associate Regional Director, Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network.

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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.