By Hope Tinney, Washington Small Business Development Center
Sheryl McGrath has been named the associate state director of the Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC). McGrath will take over for Terry Chambers, who retired this month after nearly 19 years with the SBDC.
McGrath has been president of the Washington Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation since 2015. The foundation operates AgForestry Leadership, a statewide leadership development program for professionals working in agriculture, forestry and fishing industries. The leadership program was started in 1977 and graduates of the program are among the leaders of their respective industries and also work at all levels of state and local government.
Prior to that, McGrath was an administrator and senior legislative aide for the City of Spokane for four years.
“We are thrilled to have Sheryl join our network,” said Duane Fladland, state director of the Washington SBDC. “Her experience with public-private partnerships and building stakeholder support for programs that benefit all Washingtonians will help our network grow and adapt to meet the needs of the small business community.”
The Washington SBDC is a network of more than 30 advisors working in nearly 20 communities across the state to provide small business owners with hands-on, practical advice on how to overcome challenges or move their business forward. The Washington SBDC provides one-on-one, confidential business advising as well as workshops and training to assist small business owners and entrepreneurs.
“I am honored to join this incredible network and embrace the values, mission and vision of the Washington SBDC,” McGrath said. She said she looks forward to working with small business owners and those who support them to build the partnerships and programs that enable small businesses to succeed and communities to thrive.
Washington State University is the statewide host of the Washington SBDC and provides administrative and funding support. The Washington SBDC receives half its funding from state and local stakeholders and the other half from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
For more about the Washington SBDC, go to http://www.wsbdc.org
