The Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Lakeland was named the 2017 Small Business Administration (SBA) Northern Ohio SBDC Excellence and Innovation winner.

U.S. SBA Cleveland district director, Gil Goldberg, presented the certificate of recognition to the director of the SBDC at Lakeland, Cathy Walsh, at a small award ceremony that took place at the college May 3.

A second award was given on behalf of the United States Postal Service, Northern Ohio District, signed by district manager, Sharon M. Young, and marketing manager, Harry J. Myers, to also recognize the SBDC at Lakeland for Excellence and Innovation during Small Business Week 2017.

Goldberg personally congratulated Walsh, her team and partners, which include Gretchen Skok DiSanto, Angela Clements Cattell, Martin Gareau, Jim Gray, Pat Rositani and Karen Hadden.

In addition, Karen Tercek, director of the Willoughby Western Lake County Chamber of Commerce, Monica L. Blasdel, SBA Cleveland district lender relations specialist, and Laura C. Barnard, executive vice president and provost at Lakeland, spoke at the ceremony about the importance of the support and services the SBDC provides to small businesses.

Every year since President Eisenhower, the president has set aside a week in May and designated it as Small Business Week. In this way, the SBA honors the contributions that are made by small business champions to our country's economic growth and prosperity.

The Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Program is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The SBDC program is also funded in part by the Ohio Development Services Agency. All services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Language assistance services are available for limited English proficient individuals. Reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact 440-525-7706 for more information.

By: Angela Clements Cattell