The Wilmington office of the N.C. Small Business & Technology Development Center (SBTDC) came in for special commendation as the statewide SBTDC program earned accreditation “without conditions,” according to a news release Friday.
 
In its report, the Association of Small Business Development Centers accreditation team praised SBTDC Wilmington for its “leadership system, innovative organization, program integration, and continuing professional education for all staff,” the release stated. The team visited Wilmington in June to look at the center’s operations and to interview staff members, university partners, board members and client companies.

Vince Howe, director of the University of North Carolina Wilmington's professional MBA program in the Cameron School of Business, was one of the individuals interviewed. He said that the Wilmington SBTDC connects the MBA students with companies for real-life application of concepts and skills the students learn.

"What a great contribution [SBTDC] makes to the learning alliance," Howe said, referring to the real-world component of the MBA program. "As the students learn material, they can apply it to real organizations."

The SBTDC helps identify companies within its client portfolio that would be instructive for the students to work with, and staff members coordinate to make sure that the partnership is a good one, Howe said.

"I really admire their dedication: the hours they spend, not only with their clients but with the students," he added.
 
This is the sixth time in 25 years that North Carolina's SBTDC, which provides management counseling and educational service to small and mid-sized businesses throughout the state, has earned accreditation “without conditions,” according to the release.

"The SBTDC’s successful accreditation is a reflection of its exemplary service to small and medium-sized businesses. SBTDC client companies increase revenue and create jobs at significantly greater rates than the average North Carolina business," the release stated.

Accreditation standards are derived from the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence, and are used to assess performance against critical factors that drive success, the release stated. The SBTDC as a whole was evaluated in seven key areas: Leadership; Strategic Planning; Customer & Stakeholder Focus; Measurement, Analysis & Knowledge Management; Workforce Focus; Program Delivery & Management; and Results & Outcomes.
 
North Carolina’s SBTDC is the business and technology extension service of the University of North Carolina. It is administered by N.C. State University and operates in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The Wilmington office, affiliated with UNCW, is one of its 10 regional service centers.