Washington Small Business Development Center Awards Certification to South Puget Sound SBDC Business Advisor

SPOKANE, Wash.– The Washington State University Small Business Development Center (WSU-SBDC) recently recognized Business Advisor Celia Nightingale for completion of her Professional Development and Certification program.

Nightingale is the center director and certified business advisor for the SBDC at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia. Brett Rogers, state director of the WSU-SBDC, presented Nightingale with the distinction in a formal awards ceremony during a Regional Tri-State SBDC Professional Development Conference held in Portland, Ore., last week.

The SBDC Business Advisor certification program is a rigorous, six-month program that assesses new advisors’ skills and provides orientation to the resources and methodology used by the Washington SBDC network.

“Celia brings exceptional qualifications to her position. Her unique knowledge and expertise will prove invaluable to clients in the Olympia area, and she has already become a valuable asset to the SBDC network. We look forward to working with her for many years to come,” said Rogers.

Nightingale was mentored through the process by Janet Harte, center director and certified business advisor for the WSU-SBDC center in Vancouver, Wash.

“Senior mentors are a vital component of the certification process,” said Rogers. “They provide leadership and guidance to new advisors, and we are very appreciative of our mentors’ willingness to share their professionalism and expertise with new members of the network.”

The certification process is divided into 12 proficiencies including business plan development, market analysis and planning and financial analysis and funding. Upon completion, certified business advisors have skills and knowledge that make them uniquely qualified to provide management and technical assistance to entrepreneurs and businesses in their service areas. The process includes annual recertification requirements that allow advisors to remain at the forefront of their field.

The SBDC provides no-charge confidential counseling and low-cost training to current and prospective business owners. It is a cooperative effort between Washington State University, Western Washington University, community colleges, economic development organizations and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

For more information on the SBDC, visit the Network Web site at https://www.wsbdc.org.