Innovision Spring 2019

SPRING 2019 | 21 SBDC Sonya Smith is now the Associate Director of Programs and Policy for the Pennsylvania Small BusinessDevelopment Center. She works closely with Kutztown’s branch, but this isn’t her first go around with KU. Sonya’s Kutztown chronicles began while she was an undergraduate attending Albright College and she was an intern for Kutztown’s Small Business Development Center (KUSBDC.) During her time as an intern, Sonya worked with entrepreneurs and financial projects. Her experience with the SBDC went well. She accepted a graduate assistantship with KUSBDC during her time in grad school. In May 2012, Sonya graduated from KU with her Master of Business Administration. That same month, she found herself once again with the KUSBDC as she filled the budget analysis position they needed. Sonya began doing more: assessing the mission and goals of the SBDC and creating process strategies that met them. Now, as the Assistant Director, Sonya can effectively carry out the practices she helped develop. Sonya said, “Overall, the main goal of the center is to continue to effectively serve our community of entrepreneurs.” That goal is something that Sonya wants to be a part of as she says her personal mission is, “Helping people achieve their dreams and connecting them to opportunities and resources.” SONYA SMITH ’12 Associate Director of Programs & Policy SBDC DAY Small businesses from around the area gathered at the McFarland Student Union building to celebrate the third annual SBDC day: a nationally collective proclamation of the impact of America’s small businesses. Businesses had the opportunity to share success stories and how the SBDC makes an impact on small business communities around the country. Nationally, this day is celebrated with social media campaigns, public relations initiatives and both online and in-person events.