Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network Clients and Counselors Honored

In May, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) Network clients and directors received kudos at the annual U.S. SBA Massachusetts Awards Ceremony in Westborough. Isenberg is headquarters of the statewide MSBDC Network, which offers the Commonwealth’s small businesses free business advisory services, advice on government contracting, and assistance with exporting.

At the ceremony, hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration and SCORE of Boston (a nonprofit education and mentoring service), MSBDC client Robert Jacob George, CEO of StratComm in Natick, received Small Business Person of the Year honors. StratComm, which manages client logistics, personnel management, and communications, also earned kudos as Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year. In his remarks, George thanked the MSBDC’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center and one of its advisors, Len Green, for guiding StratComm through the challenges of federal contracting.

Two other MSBDC clients also received awards. Lynn-based NRICH (Wicked Cool for Kids), which creates K-6 STEM and art enrichment programs, was Microenterprise Business of the Year. The company is a client of MSBDC’s Salem office. The Chamberlain Group, in Great Barrington, was Small Business Exporter of the Year. The company, which designs and builds organs for surgical training, is a client of the MSBDC Export Center and MSBDC’s Berkshire Regional Office.

Two MSBDC counselors also received awards. John Rainey, director of MSBDC’s Central Massachusetts Regional Office, was honored for Excellence and Innovation and Sandra Ledbetter, with MSBDC’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center, received a District Director Award.

About the MSBDC Network

Isenberg has been state headquarters of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) Network since 1980. The network is federal-state partnership providing one-to-one free, comprehensive, and confidential services focusing on business growth and strategies, financing and loan assistance, and strategic analysis. The statewide network’s regional and specialty centers offer three integrated product/service lines:  Business Advisory Services, Government Contracting, and International Trade Assistance.