The Small Business Development Center at Florida Gulf Coast University has hired two consultants to help the SBDC with its growing services.
Harry Looknanan Jr., will serve as a certified business consultant assisting the SBDC with its client services. Looknanan has been in the financial service industry for over 10 years and has previously worked at the SBDC offices in Austin, Texas. He will be responsible for implementing the SBDC services in the Estero, Bonita Springs and North Naples markets, providing small businesses assistance through counseling and business development services. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Texas, at Austin.
Trish Leonard, IOM, president and CEO of TLC Consulting, will spearhead the marketing portion of the SBDC by positioning the SBDC as the “one stop” source for small business needs. Leonard will be responsible for branding the SBDC look, press releases, sponsorship opportunities, newsletter content, as well as attend various networking events and SBDC programs to market the SBDC services. She will work at the SBDC offices on Mondays and Thursdays as an independent consultant.
“We are extremely excited to add both of these individuals to our team,” stated Dan Regelski, SBDC director. “By adding them to our organization, we will be able to continue to provide business counseling and resources to the small businesses, as well as develop a stronger presence in the Southwest Florida community.”
The SBDC has been providing counseling, training workshops and seminars to over 13,000 business owners since its inception in Southwest Florida 15 years ago.
The staff at SBDC is trained to educate small business owners by encouraging them to have a plan of action for their business. “A solid plan or ‘road map’ is the key to any successful business. You have to know where you are headed and what road you will take to become a successful and solid business owner.”
The SBDC is located on the campus of FGCU at the Lutgert School of Business. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To make an appointment to meet with a counselor contact (239) 745-3700 or visit the Web site at cli.fgcu.edu/sbdc