The Maine Small Business Development Centers (Maine SBDC), a state-wide program that helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, recognized Shannon Byers and Ashleigh Briggs who received their Core Competencies Professional Certification from the New England Professional Development (NEPD) group on Thursday, May 10, 2018.
Shannon Byers with Maine SBDC State Director Mark Delisle and Vermont State Director Linda Rossi
Ashleigh Briggs with Maine SBDC State Director Mark Delisle and Vermont State Director Linda Rossi
Byers is a certified business advisor in Ellsworth and has been with the Maine SBDC at Coastal Enterprises since 2017. She provides business advising to small businesses and entrepreneurs in Hancock and Washington Counties.
Briggs is a certified business advisor in Bangor and has been with the Maine SBDC at Coastal Enterprises for three months. She provides business advising to small businesses and entrepreneurs in Penobscot and Piscatiquis County.
NEPD is a professional development collaboration of the Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, assachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island Small Business Development Center (SBDC) programs. NEPD provides a comprehensive, core knowledge training program that business advisors must complete in order to receive certification.
Although most advisors come to the SBDC with solid business experience and advanced degrees, this professional development is the key to enhancing the value and quality of the services delivered to clients and stakeholders. The training required for this certification is comprised of three elements – participation in specified online technical content, a facilitated online discussion, and, finally, an in-person intensive group session. To maintain certification, the advisor must complete a minimum number of hours of professional development each year.