Small Business International Trade Symposium
Tuesday, December 2, 9am-12pm
OSU-Oklahoma City Campus
New Partnership formed with OSU-New Product Development Center (NPDC).
Oklahoma inventors and entrepreneurs now have a valuable resource for developing ideas, thanks to a recent partnership between the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center (OKSBDC), recognized for its confidential, high-quality, no-cost entrepreneurial and small business management advising, and the New Product development Center (NPDC) on Oklahoma State University’s Stillwater campus. The collaboration, known as OKSBDC-Center for Technology Commercialization (CTC), provides information and technical expertise for individuals and small businesses with ideas ground in technology advancements. Dana Fisher, new director for the CTC, brings over 25 years experience to the position. “The Center for Technology Commercialization represents a unique opportunity for inventors as well as emerging and established entrepreneurs to take advantage of engineering services to develop their products in concert with business advisory assistance to take their ideas to market,” Fisher said. For more information, contact the OKSBDC-CTC, located at 111 Engineering North on the OSU campus in Stillwater, Oklahoma or call Dana Fisher, Center Director at 405.744.1634. Additional nformation can be found at www.oksbdc.org
OKSBDC Success Story:
When the concept of a martial arts school began to form in the minds of Eric Harris, Danny Harris, and Grand Master Jin Young Kim, they new it would take more than physical strength to make their dream a reality. They need a plan. And, with their education, skill, and managerial experience, they had one. But was it good enough? That’s when OKSBDC business specialist, Larry Siebert, was contacted to help make a good plan even better.
With valuable resources and skills at his disposal, Larry produced an unbiased review of the industry outlook for Dragon Kim’s Taekwondo and Finess Center. Mr. Siebert reviewed the business plan, asked invaluable questions, and helped close the gaps in the planning process. According to owner Danny Harris, the unbiased, third-party critique of his business plan was crucial. “The thing I found most valuable (from Larry) was just the candor for what our business plan was.”
After a year of economic and financial planning, a location was chosen for the business. Once again, Mr. Siebert and the OKSBDC provided assistance with demographic services. “Duraing this time, my goal as a business specialist was to provide the Harris family with timely industry data sets with which they could benchmark and model their business plan projections,” says Siebert. “Along with that planning process, I strived to keep them appraised of all of the other partnerships, resources, and services that the Oklahoma Small Business Development Centers offered.”
For more information and questions about OKSBDC services or to schedule an appointment, contact Larry Siebert at 405.216.2023 or lsiebert@se.edu.
Sharon Nichols Named New OKSBDC
Assistant State Director
For over fifteen years, Sharon Nichols has been passionate about helping small business owners succeed. Whether a client is looking to buy, start, or expand a business, Sharon’s success is reflected in the economic impact felt by the client, his employees and families, and the communities.
Sharon received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Central Oklahoma and an MBA from Northeastern State University. She holds certifications with the National Development Council as an Economic Development Finance Professional, Technology Commercialization Certification, PHR Certification (Professional Human Resources) through the HR Certification Institute and a QuickBooks ProAdvisor Certification.
Nichols has served the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center for four years, two of which were in the capacity of Regional Director for Northeast Oklahoma before recently taking on the role of Assistant State Director, Program Performance. “I am honored to be given this opportunity to serve as the Assistant State Director for Program Performance as the Oklahoma SBDC moves forward, stated Nichols. “We are gearing up and preparing Oklahoma’s SBDC to go to the next level.”
OKSBDC Conducts Workshop in Enid
OKSBD Senior Consultant Dave Williams conducted a Continuity Planning Workshop in Enid recently. The event was sponsored by The Enid Regional Development Alliance, Oklahoma Business Roundtable, Autry Technology Center and the OKSBDC. Williams offers disaster training and preparation for small businesses.
