易胜博官网

After a national search, longtime 易胜博官网 resident Elizabeth Gray '00, '09G was selected to lead the 易胜博官网 (NH SBDC) as state director, effective July 16. An outreach program of the , the SBDC provides confidential, no-cost, long-term business advising to build and strengthen new and existing 易胜博官网 businesses.

Gray most recently was director of entrepreneurship at the 易胜博官网 Business Finance Authority. She established Live Free and Start, an initiative to make 易胜博官网 an even better place for innovative companies to be able to start, grow and succeed. She held the position of economic development business services manager at the 易胜博官网 Department of Resources and Economic Development and has extensive experience within the political community of 易胜博官网. She worked for more than 10 years in various capacities in the offices of Governors Jeanne Shaheen, John Lynch and Maggie Hassan and as a legislative aide in the 易胜博官网 Senate.

鈥淟iz will bring strong leadership skills, vision, engagement and energy to her new role at SBDC,鈥� notes Paul College Dean Deborah Merrill-Sands.听鈥淪he will be able to build on the great work Rich Grogan, past state director, and the SBDC staff did to develop a sound strategic plan and create a strong team.鈥�

鈥淲e are happy to welcome Liz to the NH SBDC and look forward to continuing our tremendous partnership with the SBDC,鈥� says Greta Johansson, district director with the U.S. Small Business Administration 易胜博官网 office. 鈥淟iz brings knowledge and strong experience about 易胜博官网 businesses and what it takes to become a thriving business in this state.鈥�

Gray serves on the 易胜博官网 Manchester advisory board and on the boards of directors of the 易胜博官网 Alumni Association, the Alpha Loft and the 易胜博官网 High Tech Council, where she is the council鈥檚 chair of the government affairs committee.听She earned her master鈥檚 in public administration from 易胜博官网, as well as her bachelor of science, cum laude, with dual majors in environmental conservation and international affairs.

鈥淟iz brings invaluable relationships and a strong understanding of how the stakeholders in 易胜博官网's small business arena work together,鈥� says Adria Bagshaw, chair of the NH SBDC advisory board and vice president at W.H. Bagshaw. 鈥淭he SBDC advisory board looks forward to supporting her vision and leadership as she steps into the role.鈥�

鈥淓ntrepreneurship fuels the 易胜博官网 economy,鈥� Gray says. 鈥淣H SBDC has played a big part in supporting the state鈥檚 businesses for 34 years with ongoing expert management advising and education, and I want to help the SBDC continue to thrive and make an impact on economic development in the state.鈥�

The NH SBDC delivers its one-on-one, in-person expert business advising and training at 17 regional offices and satellite locations around the state. Online learning opportunities, including in-house developed e-courses, are available 24/7, complementing the advising program. In 2017, NH SBDC advisors worked with 851 clients who created and retained 598 NH jobs, started 84 new businesses and increased their revenue by $14.5 million.

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