(July 7, 2010) – Lone Star College System Small Business Development Center celebrated its 25th anniversary last week with a reception held at the system office in The Woodlands.
The SBDC at Lone Star College is the oldest of all the 15 centers operating under the guidance of the Gulf Coast Region SBDC and the University of Houston System.
“I would like to extend congratulations to this program,” said Ray Laughter, vice chancellor of external affairs at LSCS, as part of the program on June 29. “It’s been a great experience for 25 years.”
Laughter explained that the SBDC plays a vital role in the economic development of its service area through the creation of jobs – thousands of jobs over the past 25 years – and through the assistance provided to small business owners.
Mike Young, executive director of the U of H SBDC network, recognized the success of the center at LSCS and noted that it has become “a key component in our network.”
Young pointed out that the LSCS SBDC has the support and leadership of Dr. Richard Carpenter, the LSCS chancellor, as well as Vice Chancellor Laughter. “You also have tremendous support throughout this community and strong recognition by your local and state elected officials,” he said.
“You put all those things together and it’s a formula for success,” Young said.
The reception at the LSCS Central Services and Training Center in The Woodlands also included remarks from Sal Mira, director of the LSCS SBDC; Arthur Warga, dean of the C.T. Bauer College of Business at U of H; Mark Winchester, deputy district director, Small Business Administration; Jonathan Durfield, associate vice chancellor, LSCS; and Sarah Stephens, representing the office of U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady. Stephens presented a proclamation from Rep. Brady’s office to the LSCS SBDC marking the anniversary.
The LSCS SBDC, created in 1985, is the first and oldest of the 15 UH centers. Its service area mirrors that of LSCS and covers more than 1,400 square miles of north Harris and south Montgomery counties, where the population has grown from 700,000 to nearly 2 million in the last 25 years. Throughout this 25-year period, LSCS has consistently supported the SBDC.
The SBDC at LSCS now employs a full-time director and four full-time, well-educated senior business consultants all of whom are experienced and are prior business owners. Together with a full-time administrative assistant, the SBDC staff assists local entrepreneurs and existing companies by helping them fulfill their dreams of business ownership through a sound foundation, proper business planning and training.
For more information go to LoneStar.edu/sbdc
With more than 62,000 students in credit classes in spring 2010, and a total enrollment of nearly 85,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, and the second largest and the fastest-growing community college system in Texas. LSCS consists of five colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, and LSC-Tomball, six centers, LSC-University Park, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.
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