Bucknell’s Center recipient of Happy Client Award for the third year in a row, as well as State Star and Ambassador of the Year Awards
LEWISBURG, PA – The Bucknell University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) was recently honored with the statewide Happy Client Award for the third consecutive year and the fifth time in the last six years, as well as team members being awarded the State Star and Ambassador of the Year awards.
The Happy Client Award, State Star and Ambassador Award were presented at the Pennsylvania SBDC (PASBDC) Growth Conference, held at Kutztown University, May 14 and 15. This event brought together representatives from all 15 SBDCs across Pennsylvania, along with officials from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). The conference provided an opportunity for professional networking, learning about the latest trends and strategies in business growth, and collaborating with industry leaders and innovators.
The Happy Client Award reflects the center’s commitment to best-in-class customer service. This award recognizes the number of clients served by the Bucknell SBDC who would recommend its services and find SBDC assistance helpful for their businesses. This achievement underscores the Bucknell SBDC’s dedication to fostering entrepreneurial success in central Pennsylvania.
Business consultant Ray Haden, formerly a business consultant and financial acquisition specialist with the Wilkes University SBDC and now with the Bucknell University SBDC, was awarded the “State Star” award. This award, the PASBDC network’s highest honor, acknowledges his exceptional performance and commitment to client success throughout his six year SBDC career at the Wilkes SBDC. Haden will be recognized additionally for this award at the national level at the America’s SBDC Conference in September in Atlanta.
Bucknell SBDC Director Steven Stumbris has been honored with the PASBDC “Ambassador of the Year Award,” recognizing his efforts to expand the SBDC’s presence in the state. Stumbris has been instrumental in promoting small businesses and the stories of innovators through his role as the moderator for WVIA-TV’s Keystone Edition Business program, where he engages with entrepreneurs, executives, and creators to discuss the dynamics of succeeding in today’s marketplace.
“I am incredibly proud of our center’s excellent and dedicated team,” Stumbris says. “These awards reflect the positive impact our center has on entrepreneurs and the economy of our region. Our team’s commitment to providing exceptional service and support to our clients is truly commendable.”
These accolades follow closely after the Bucknell SBDC received a recent statewide award, the U.S. Small Business Administration SBDC Excellence and Innovation Award. This recognition highlighted the center’s outstanding service and innovative approaches to supporting small businesses, further solidifying its reputation as a leader in the state.
About the Bucknell SBDC
The Bucknell University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides confidential no-cost consulting and educational workshops to individuals throughout central Pennsylvania. The SBDC gives entrepreneurs the knowledge and skills they need to start and grow successful businesses. Bucknell’s SBDC is one of 15 centers in Pennsylvania and serves Juniata, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, and Union counties. The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (PASBDC) are the only statewide, nationally accredited program that provides high-quality one-on-one consulting, training, and information resources to empower new and existing businesses. For more information, visit Bucknell SBDC.
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CONTACTS: Steven Stumbris, 570-577-3791, steven.stumbris@bucknell.edu; Mike Ferlazzo, 570-577-3212, 570-238-622 (c); mike.ferlazzo@bucknell.edu