Maryland Small Business Development Center

Veterans Day is a time to pause and reflect, to honor the courage, dedication, and sacrifice of all who have served in the United States Armed Forces. We at the Maryland SBDC are especially proud to support veterans in their entrepreneurial journey. We recognize the unique strengths and perspectives that veterans bring to the business world and are committed to providing the guidance and resources they need to thrive. Thank you, veterans, for your service to our country and for the impact you make in our communities every day! Join us as we celebrate National Veterans Small Business Week and share events, inspirational stories, and transition assistance resources: https://lnkd.in/eZxXGcS

October is Women’s Business Month—a time to celebrate and uplift the pioneering women entrepreneurs who are shaping the future! Maryland offers a wealth of free or low-cost resources for current and aspiring business owners. Programs like the Maryland SBDC, Veterans Business Outreach Center, Women’s Business Centers, and Maryland Business Opportunity Center provide guidance, training, and support to help you launch, grow, and thrive. Discover more opportunities here: https://buff.ly/2WkGtvF #WomensBusinessMonth #MDEntrepreneurs #WomenInBusiness

Maryland SBDC is in Ocean City, MD, for our Fall Retreat, 3 days of profesional development and networking. We started the morning off with an energizing session by Larry Long Jr ?? of LLJR Enterprises, who reminded us to BE BOLD in all we do.

On September 16, 2024, the Maryland Business Opportunity Center (MBOC) commemorated its first anniversary. Established as a joint initiative between the University of Maryland and the Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC), MBOC aims to support underserved entrepreneurs and small businesses by providing no-cost business consulting and subject matter expert services. The First-Year Celebration was attended by many distinguished guests, including U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball III, and Congressman Glenn Ivey, who praised MBOC's ongoing contributions to the success of Maryland's small business community. Other notable attendees included Lora Brown, State Director of Maryland SBDC; Gregory Ball, Vice President for Research at the University of Maryland (UMD); Dean Chang, UMD Chief Innovation Officer; Charles "Tee" Rowe, President of America's SBDC; and Steve Umberger, District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Baltimore office. For more more information about MBOC and its mission, please visit their website at www.marylandboc.org.

Congratulations to SBDC Consultant Brandon "BW" M., winner of the 2024 Maryland SBDC State Star award! The State Star award recognizes the "best of the best", exemplary business advisors and staff in the SBDC program wo make significant contributions to the organization’s economic development efforts, and display a strong commitment to small businesses. Mason will be recognized in September, during a special ceremony at America’s SBDC national conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Brandon Mason is a successful entrepreneur with deep experience in start-ups, technology, government, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Arts and Math)-related job growth. Brandon is passionate about the sustainable growth of downtown and rural communities as well as working with entrepreneurs to achieve their goals. He serves as an SBDC expert in technology related businesses as a result of his extensive knowledge of patent-based technologies. Mason supports economic growth through workshops, networking events, one-on-one counseling, and maximizing resources for clients. He also assists with obtaining SBA loans for clients to finance their business, helping with patents and technology transfer, and attracting new businesses to Frederick and Howard Counties while helping existing businesses to be more successful. His primary focus is promoting job creation, business starts, sales growth, and capital infusion for small businesses. Brandon holds a master's degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelors degree in Political Science focused on public policy from West Virginia University. Join thousands of other savvy entrepreneurs who receive insider tips, expert strategies, and business resources directly to their inbox each month. Subscribe to our #smallbiz newsletter today! Read more: https://buff.ly/3AZWLng

Subscribe to our SBDC Small Biz newsletter today for need-to-know news, advice, tips, and tricks! In July's issue: celebrate small business success with Princess Parlor Kids Spa, a Glenarden-based spa offering luxurious services for children. With strategic guidance from Maryland SBDC, they’ve navigated numerous challenges and achieved significant milestones. Read the full story here https://buff.ly/4c4jP19.

Congratulations to Eric M. (Marshall), newly appointed Program Director of the Maryland Business Opportunity Center (MBOC). With over 20 years of military service and a strong commitment to supporting veterans, Marshall has made significant contributions to the entrepreneurial community. Read the full press release here: https://buff.ly/4cywJFk

Congratulations to Maryland SBDC Clients Greg and Christie Coster, MARYLAND SMALL BUSINESS WEEK AWARDS PROGRAM INC 2024 "Small Business Person of the Year" awardees. "One by one, the tasks on the "to do" list were checked off. 6 months later, our dream was a reality; we owned the business. 1.5 years later, we opened a SECOND coffee shop. None of this would have been achieved if not for Candace and the Anne Arundel County Small Business Development Center.” Read about their journey from aspiring entrepreneurs to multi-location coffee shop owners in our June SBDC Small Business Success newsletter: https://buff.ly/3xnWQQi

During Hagerstown Start-Up Week, eight incubator members received the Spark! Award as the first entrepreneurs to graduate from the HCC Incubator Program. #StartupWeek #Entrepreneurship #HCCIncubator #SBDC

The Maryland #SBDC Virtual Women's Business Conference: "Elevate & Excel: Women Entrepreneurs' Guide to Small Business Success" is right around the corner. Have you registered yet? Join us on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, for a morning full of invaluable business insights, resources, and networking. Learn about leveraging SBDC services, mastering pitching and funding, refining marketing strategies, and much more. Featuring Keynote Speaker Rochelle Hemingway, CEO and Founder of SLAY To Success, LLC. Attendance is free, but registration is required. Reserve your space today! https://lnkd.in/eTzfkwPq