NEWS

Fort Dodge woman earns national “State Star” award
 
AMES, Iowa — Lisa Shimkat, regional director of the North Central Iowa Small Business Development Center in Fort Dodge, was named the 2010 Iowa “State Star” by the national Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC). 
 
The national association annually recognizes Small Business Development Center employees for demonstrating exemplary work performance, significantly contributing to the organization’s economic development efforts, and showing a strong commitment to small businesses.
 
Shimkat, who’s been with the organization since May 2007, was nominated by her associates for the honor. She will be honored at a special reception held during the ASBDC national annual fall conference in San Antonio, Texas on Sept. 24th.
 
“This nomination by Lisa’s peers recognizes the outstanding job she has done for the business communities in the ten counties served by the North Central Iowa Small Business Development Center,” says Iowa SBDC State Director Jim Heckmann. “Lisa always works extremely hard for her clients and for our organization. Her dedication deserves this recognition.”
 
Jim Patton, Region 7 Education Director, Iowa State University Extension Office, Fort Dodge, adds, “Lisa is one of many dedicated staff of the Iowa SBDC. Her achievements are highlighted by her efforts through team work with Small Business Development Centers across the state. Lisa’s enthusiasm, imagination and energy are contagious. She is an outstanding professional deserving the Iowa SBDC 2010 State Star Award.” 
 
Past recipients of the award include the former state director, former associate state director, former regional directors from Mason City and Waterloo, and current regional directors from Urbandale, Iowa City, Spencer, Dubuque and Cedar Rapids.
 
Iowa’s Small Business Development Centers are an outreach program of Iowa State University's College of Business. Partially funded by the U. S. Small Business Administration, the organization has 15 regional assistance centers located strategically across the state. Since program inception in 1981, the Centers have helped hundreds of thousands of Iowa businesses and entrepreneurs through individual, professional counseling and affordable training. 
 
For more information on Iowa Small Business Development Center programs or services, call (515) 294-2030 or visit www.iowasbdc.org.