Beth Wilkerson has taken on the role of regional director of the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Wilkerson comes to the role following former director Heather McWhorter’s transition in June to the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship as its new director.

Wilkerson most recently served as regional center director of SBTDC at UNC Pembroke (UNCP). During her time there she was able to work with various companies in different industries, markets and circumstances which opened her to learning something new every day, she said in an email.

She holds an MBA from UNCP and is moving to Brunswick County for the role. She said the existing SBTDC team at UNCW has great foundations.

“They are doing great work. Heather McWhorter, my predecessor, did a tremendous job in her capacity and the results are obvious,” she said. “My goal is to find where I fit and can add value. Wilmington and the surrounding areas are blessed with small business resources, and they all work together so well.”

The North Carolina SBTDC operates 11 regional service centers. The Wilmington area is housed within the Southeastern region. The organization assists businesses with advice and resources including confidential, in-depth business counseling for small- to mid-sized business owners, management and entrepreneurs. This advice includes topics such as profitability, sources to capital and financing, identifying market opportunities, developing business strategies and more.

Wilkerson said her areas of focus in her new role will be to continue to support small businesses and prepare them for resiliency during uncertain times.
 
“Continuing to help clients make their businesses better is an ongoing challenge. The SBTDC at UNCW services six counties that include all three tiers of economic well-being,” she said. “An area of focus is supporting all of them to be more prosperous, particularly the Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties. Also, proactively preparing businesses for disasters such as pandemics, hurricanes, and flooding is a focus.”