Robert Mineo, the Financing Assistance Program Director at Lehigh University SBDC, was announced as the 2022 State Star for Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (PASBDC). Mineo first joined the Pennsylvania SBDC as a graduate student at Lehigh University, and then joined the team full-time after graduation. Since then, he has utilized his tenure with the Pennsylvania SBDC to become a crucial member of the Lehigh SBDC and PASBDC network as a whole.
“I was very excited, and surprised, to win this award. It really is an honor. Knowing well the consultants that have won this award in the past, some who have mentored me and been instrumental in my own growth makes it that much more special. Our network has helped so many small business owners in so many different ways, and to me, this award is a reminder of that. I am lucky that the Lehigh University Small Business Development Center is such an awesome place to work, and I look forward to supporting our local small business owners for years to come.” said Mineo. Each year, America’s Small Business Development Center (ASBDC) Network recognizes top performers nationwide at its Annual Conference. A special presentation honoring the ASBDC 2022 State Stars will be held during the national conference this September.
Prior to this year’s State Star Award, Mineo’s excellence in the financial sector has won him many awards during his time at the PASBDC. Since 2014, when he won his first PASBDC capital award, he has ranked at or very near the top of the entire network every year in total capital and/or number of loans secured.
“Rob represents our more than 100 business consultants across the Commonwealth through his passion for helping entrepreneurs start, grow and prosper. Rob has established himself as one of our outstanding experts and top producer of helping clients acquire capital,” said Pennsylvania SBDC Director Ernie Post.
Aside from awards and accolades, Robert Mineo has made many direct impacts on clients during his tenure with the PASBDC. One client stated in a survey that Mineo “was outstanding in his guidance, expertise, and patience.” He has many duties, including working with clients to help them understand cash flow projections and realize realistic funding needs. Furthermore, Mineo maintains excellent relationships with the lending community and knows what type of funding banks are providing to small business owners. Mineo’s close relationship with clients and lenders, in combination with his outstanding financial knowledge, validated his nomination for the 2022 State Star Award.
Mineo, through extensive experience, has gained tremendous respect from both internal and external colleagues. Lehigh Center Director Brett Smith commented that Mineo is “instrumental to the success of the Lehigh SBDC as the Financing Program Director and always operates at a State Star level. Rob is the consummate professional and he loves his job. His clients’ success is his success.” Furthermore, Shannon DeGiglio from the SBA Eastern PA District Office says “Rob is the go-to person that many lenders and myself have referred clients to for help with finding funding over the years. Rob and I have worked together for approximately 8 years. In that time, we have worked together on many initiatives to help businesses access capital in the Lehigh Valley.”
For further information check out Robert Mineo’s LinkedIn.
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