Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - Bringing more than two decades of management and business consulting experience, Gary Smith is poised to assist aspiring entrepreneurs in a six-country region as the new director of the Southwest Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SWSBDC)

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The center, headquartered on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus, provides resources, counseling, education and training for start-up companies and business owners in Crawford, Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette and Richland counties. Smith is excited about the opportunities the Southwest Wisconsin region presents. "There is a lot of potential here. There are a lot of bright, well-intentioned people with a lot of good ideas. The opportunities are tremendous," he said. "What we're going to be focusing on is working with regional stakeholders - business leaders, financial leaders and educational leaders in the region. We'll spend a lot of time listening to these folks, what their visions are and what their needs are, and determine how we can help provide assistance and resources."

SWSBDC resources are offered through a partnership between UW-Platteville, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (Fennimore) and Blackhawk Technical College (Janesville and Monroe), with additional funds from the U.S. Small Business Administration, UW-Extension and the six counties that the SWSBDC serves. Smith has the experience and education to help local businesspeople. He has degrees from UCLA and Pepperdine University, and over an 11-year period assisted international corporations as well as small companies through his work with a number of business consulting firms, including five years with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Most recently, Smith worked for the community development office at Blackhawk Technical College, assisting businesses in Green and Rock counties. Since 2002, he has owned his own consulting firm. "I'm excited to have Gary come on board and take over as the director of the Southwest Wisconsin Small Business Development Center," said Duane Ford, dean of the UWP College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture. "I'm also thankful to Blackhawk Technical College and Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, who are partnering with us in the SWSBDC and are enabling us to hire Gary on a full-time basis. Hopefully we can provide better service to entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs in the counties the SWSBDC serves."

Smith brings a three-pronged business development philosophy to the position: develop new businesses, help existing businesses grow and foster entrepreneurship among youth through education and awareness. UW-Platteville, Blackhawk Technical College and Southwest Wisconsin Technical College will all play critical roles.

Smith would also like to extend educational opportunities to high school, college and university classrooms, to develop an entrepreneurial base for years to come. Aspiring entrepreneurs and regional businesspeople looking for assistance may contact Smith at the SWSBDC by telephone at 608-342-1038, or via e-mailswsbdc@uwplatt.edu. The center is located at 510 Pioneer Tower on the UW-Platteville campus. More information about the SWSBDC is available online www.uwplatt.edu/swsbdc.

Contact: Gary Smith, director, Southwest Wisconsin Small Business Development Center, 608-342-1038,swsbdc@uwplatt.edu Prepared by: Dan Lehnherr, UWP Public Relations, 608-342-1194, lehnherd@uwplatt.edu