KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University’s Small Business Development Center (KUSBDC) welcomes three new staff members to provide aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners with no cost, confidential consulting services and learning opportunities in Kutztown, Reading, Harrisburg, Exton, Lancaster and York. The new staff member and their titles include Marcia McGavish, Director of Capital Acquisition, Robert Kieke, Business Consultant and IT Specialist, and Carly Simon, Client Service & Program Manager.
Director of Capital Acquisition, Marcia McGavish
As a former small business owner, McGavish joins the KUSBDC as the Director of Capital Acquisition. McGavish has an expansive history in commercial lending, working at a traditional bank as a SBA 7(a) professional, then a SBA 7(a) program manager for a large regional bank. McGavish spent the last six years managing the credit and operations functions at the CDC for both the SBA 7(a) and 504 loan programs at Seedcopa. As Director of Capital Acquisition, McGavish will work with business advisors throughout the 18 networks to assist with client financing projects.
“We are very excited to welcome the depth Marcia has with small business lending into the state lead office,” stated Ernie Post, State Director of PASBDC. “Marcia’s 29-plus years of commercial credit experience will be very helpful in assisting our business advisors as they guide our clients in new funding opportunities to support business growth.”
Business Consultant & IT Specialist, Robert Kieke
Robert Kieke got his start at the KUSBDC as a graduate assistant while pursuing his MBA in 2016. His position and expertise seemed valuable to the center and lead to a staff position as a Business Consultant & IT Specialist. Kieke’s responsibilities include the maintenance of data integrity within the PA SBDC’s databases, as well as leveraging network website/search analytics, and processing data through Microsoft Excel. Kieke’s client-facing experience consists of 3+ years of conducting Website Reports, Web Design/Development, and advising clients on a wide array of technology & social media topics. In his spare time, Kieke enjoys making cheese as a hobby.
Client Service Program Manager, Carly Simon
Lehigh Valley native Carly Simon has spent most of her career growing her expertise in community relations, marketing and administrative duties while working with Barnes & Noble, the Lehigh Carbon Community College’s Teacher Education Department and the Parkland Community Library. Simon’s responsibilities as the Client Service Program Manager at KUSBDC will include assisting the client experience and navigating them through the intake and consulting process by assessing client needs for educational programs, technical assistance, external resources and business mentors.
“Ms. Simon comes to the KU SBDC highly recommended, with more than 20 years of marketing, educational technology and developing adult learning platforms,” said Kutztown University Director Sonya Smith. “In addition to Carly’s experience with nonprofit and corporate organizations, she is a great communicator and has firsthand experience with curriculum development and resource management.”
The Kutztown University Small Business Development Center is committed to strengthening the PASBDC networks resources and educational opportunities with the assistance of McGavish, Kieke and Simon. To help visualize the many successes attributed to the work of the PASBDC from 2011 to 2018, the network assisted 5,096 new businesses, created, saved, and outsourced 61,047 jobs, and helped clients obtain a total of $472,660,014 in new international trade sales.
About Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)
The Pennsylvania SBDC network is the only statewide, nationally accredited program that provides high quality one-on-one consulting, training and information resources to empower new and existing businesses. SBDC consultants work with entrepreneurs in confidential, individualized sessions to help them with a range of business issues including testing a new business proposition, shaping a business plan, investigating funding opportunities, and much more. The SBDC program is a public/private partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and 18 universities and colleges across the Commonwealth. For more information on the Pennsylvania SBDC services and impact, please visit www.pasbdc.org.
About Kutztown University Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (PA SBDCs) work with small firms to help them compete and grow in today’s highly competitive global economy. Combining the expertise of a professional staff with the resources of the state’s best colleges and universities, the SBDCs provide high quality business management consulting, information, and educational programs that build small firms’ capacities to compete in domestic and international markets. Funding support and resources for the Kutztown University SBDC program are provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Department of Community and Economic Development, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, and through support from Kutztown University. All services are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. Special arrangements for persons with disabilities can be made. The KU SBDC is also funded under a cooperative agreement from the Defense Logistics Agency.
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