- University News Archive - ĢĒŠÄVlog“«Ć½ Little Rock /news-archive/tag/arkansas-small-business-and-technology-development-center/ ĢĒŠÄVlog“«Ć½ Little Rock Fri, 21 Oct 2022 13:33:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 New Mini-Conference Will Help Businesses Up Their Game on Social Media /news-archive/2022/10/21/new-mini-conference/ Fri, 21 Oct 2022 13:33:54 +0000 /news/?p=82404 ... New Mini-Conference Will Help Businesses Up Their Game on Social Media]]> The theme of the hybrid event is how to strategically approach social media to grow a business. There is no cost to participate in-person or online. On-site location is the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension State Office (ĢĒŠÄVlog“«Ć½ System Division of Agriculture) in Little Rock. ā€œFor those already using social media, we want to take it one step further and become even better at utilizing it for sales and awareness of your business and brand,ā€ said ASBTDC’s Whitney Horton, one of the event’s lead organizers. Starting at 9 a.m., ā€œGot Social?ā€ will feature five main sessions led by experienced Arkansas marketers:
  • Molly Shirell, Obtain Creative – Event Kickoff
  • Seth Barlow, Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau – Facebook
  • Lauren Ramsey, Puzzle Piece Media – TikTok
  • Eyona Mitchell, ASBTDC – Instagram
  • Frank H. Cox III, CMW – Closing Session
Their presentations will explain how to gauge which social channel is best for your business, plus how to navigate that platform and convert followers to customers. On-site will also be a digital health check lab, where digital experts will look at attendees’ social media pages and offer on-the-spot advice. The complimentary lunch sponsored by TruService Community Federal Credit Union will be catered by the Croissanterie. A cornhole tournament and networking opportunities on the beautiful scenic walking trail will offer some fun breaktime socializing, weather permitting. Pre-registration is required, as capacity is limited.Ā When you register, you can choose the virtual or in-person option. or visit . For more information, contact Dmitri Scott at 501-916-6730 or dscott@ualr.edu. ASBTDC assists new, existing and expanding small businesses through a statewide network of offices. Learn more at . The project seeks to assist businesses with access to capital, business development, contracting and procurement, marketing, operations and exporting and help small businesses address and overcome some of the systemic challenges that face entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities.]]>
ASBTDC’s Horvath Wins National Recognition /news-archive/2022/09/23/horvath-national-recognition/ Fri, 23 Sep 2022 12:58:12 +0000 /news/?p=82131 ... ASBTDC’s Horvath Wins National Recognition]]> America’sĀ SBDC launched the 40Ā UnderĀ 40Ā award this year to recognize outstanding young SBDCĀ staff from across the nation who demonstrate innovation, leadership, and commitment to theĀ SBDCĀ mission. The inaugural 40 Under 40 class was announced in conjunction with the 43rd Annual America’s SBDC Conference taking place Sept. 6-9 in San Diego. Horvath is the consulting manager at the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. ā€œBrandon is passionate about small business and entrepreneurship. He is a hard-working, thoughtful advocate for his clients and brings wisdom beyond his years to our program,ā€ said State Director Laura Fine. ā€œWe are thrilled but not surprised that he is among the first America’s SBDC 40 Under 40 honorees.ā€ Horvath began his ASBTDC career at Henderson State University. He came to the Lead Center at ĢĒŠÄVlog“«Ć½ Little Rock in April 2020. Immediately, he led the effort to connect ASBTDC staff and clients with the most up-to-date information on pandemic relief. His current responsibilities include one-on-one consulting with small business clients while managing ASBTDC’s consulting services for a 19-county area. On the side, he owns and operates Heyday Classics, a classic car consignment business. Horvath and his wife Brooke have a son and live in Benton. He is a graduate of Henderson State and is a certified Economic Development Finance Professional with emphasis on Business Credit Analysis (EDFP-BCA). is the association that represents the nationwide network of Small Business Development Centers, the most comprehensive small business assistance network in the United States and its territories. Hosted by leading universities, colleges, state economic development agencies, and private partners, nearly 1,000 local centers provide management and technical assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their own businesses. SBDCs are funded in part by Congress through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration. ASBTDC helps businesses and start and grow. Through its offices around the state, the center offers no-cost services and resources for Arkansas entrepreneurs and small businesses. For more information, call (800) 862-2040 or visit .]]> ASBTDC Launches Arkansas Business Navigator Project to Help Entrepreneurs from Underrepresented and Underserved Communities /news-archive/2022/09/06/arkansas-business-navigator/ Tue, 06 Sep 2022 13:15:56 +0000 /news/?p=82096 ... ASBTDC Launches Arkansas Business Navigator Project to Help Entrepreneurs from Underrepresented and Underserved Communities]]> The helps small businesses address and overcome some of the systemic challenges that face entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities. ASBTDC expects to provide training and technical assistance to more than 5,000 new and existing small businesses owners during the two-year project. This support includes access to capital, business development, contracting and procurement, marketing, operations, and exporting. Led by Associate State Director Michael Singleton, the Arkansas Business Navigator team also includes Diego Morales Ibarra, project manager; Angela Gardner, Tania Martinez Chavez, and Adriana Fuentes Archila, navigator specialists; Harrison Hudson, market researcher and content specialist; and Javier Hernandez, navigator eFellow. ā€œThe goal of the Arkansas Business Navigator Project is to ensure that entrepreneurs from underrepresented and underserved communities have full access to broad services to help them start or grow their own businesses,ā€ Singleton said. ā€œWith this program, we are democratizing entrepreneurship by giving the people the tools and resources to take control of their own futures.ā€ Under the community navigator approach, trusted community partners act as ā€œspokesā€ who will reach into specific sectors of the state’s entrepreneurial community. ASBTDC will provide centralized support and structure for all the spokes, develop and share tools for the spokes, and provide market research and specialized expertise for businesses. The spokes include the Arkansas Human Development Corporation, Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, Central Arkansas Library System, East Arkansas Enterprise Community, Phoenix Youth and Family Services, and University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service. One of the critical goals of the project is to increase the capacity to serve Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs in the state. ASBTDC has partnered with Martinez Agency, a creative and branding agency in Rogers, to create a marketing accelerator program for Spanish-speaking business owners. ā€œOur goal by the end of the project is to develop, communicate, and create a situation where Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs have access to all the resources and tools they need to start a business,ā€ Singleton said. About 35 Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs are participating in the accelerator program. They are learning about topics such as the importance of having a business website, how to sell products on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and how to use digital tools to reach their customers. ā€œWe wanted to create this marketing program because we knew it will help to support the Latino community and Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs and business owners,ā€ Morales Ibarra said. ā€œI like to be in direct contact with small business owners about what we can do to cover their needs. We want to help entrepreneurs cover all the ground they need to be successful.ā€ The Navigator team is working with the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce and Conexión de Negocios Latinos to provide 15 workshop and training events for Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs across the state. A calendar of events is . The Arkansas Business Navigator Project is also recruiting students for paid positions in its . The opportunity is open to juniors, seniors, and postgraduate students with at least a 3.0 GPA from any higher education institution within the University of Arkansas System. Bilingual and multilingual students are especially encouraged to apply . They will work with expert business consultants as they advise and develop entrepreneurs from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities including women, minority, Spanish-speaking, rural, veteran, LGBTQ+, and disabled entrepreneurs. The eFellows assess the needs of small business owners and match them with resources in the Arkansas Business Navigator network as well as assist with training programs and outreach efforts. The project is funded by a ASBTDC received through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s . Part of the American Rescue Plan initiative, the program is designed to reduce barriers that all small businesses, including those from underrepresented and underserved groups, often face in accessing critical support. ASBTDC is one of 51 organizations that will receive a combined total of $100 million in funding through the Community Navigator Pilot Program. The organizations will work with hundreds of local groups to connect America’s entrepreneurs to government resources so they can recover and thrive. Cossatot Community College in De Queen is also a member of the Community Navigator Pilot Program.]]> Lab2Launch to Prepare Innovative Arkansans to Compete for USDA Seed Funding /news-archive/2022/06/07/lab2launch-usda-seed-funding/ Tue, 07 Jun 2022 20:45:27 +0000 /news/?p=81679 ... Lab2Launch to Prepare Innovative Arkansans to Compete for USDA Seed Funding]]> Offered by the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, the eight-week virtual accelerator prepares entrepreneurs and early-stage companies to tap into SBIR, the highly competitive federal Small Business Innovation Research funding program. Also known as America’s Seed Fund, SBIR and its sister, Small Business Technology Transfer, award over $4 billion in non-dilutive grants and contracts each year to small companies to pursue the commercial potential of innovative technologies. Lab2Launch offers step-by-step guidance on preparing and submitting a strong SBIR proposal. Participants can expect to receive all the resources necessary to prepare a competitive USDA application and will learn from one another as well as from ASBTDC staff and subject matter experts. The center’s innovation specialist, Rebecca Todd, will lead participants through topic selection, budget preparation, writing and editing, market research and other aspects of the application process. Todd is an experienced SBIR/STTR proposal editor and reviewer who has served on USDA application review panels. The Lab2Launch USDA cohort starts the week of July 11. Sessions are virtual, allowing companies based anywhere in the state to easily take part. The timing of the accelerator aligns with the 2022 deadline to submit a Phase I proposal to USDA. After the eight-week program, ASBTDC will work one-on-one with Lab2Launch companies to finalize their proposals by the Oct. 6 submission deadline. Arkansans developing new products and services that fit within the Agriculture Dept.’s are encouraged to apply for Lab2Launch. ā€œUSDA has broad research topics that generally repeat from one funding cycle to the next. One of the regular topics is ā€˜Rural and Community Development,’ which encompasses a range of project ideas leading to solutions that will ultimately improve quality of life for rural America. So, many companies who may have a non-agricultural customer type in mind may find that their technology is relevant to USDA’s interests,ā€ says Todd. How to Apply To apply, visit . There is no application fee or cost to participate. Spots are limited. Researchers and companies seeking a first SBIR/STTR grant or contract will receive first preference. For more information, contact Todd at 501-831-2584 or rctodd@ualr.edu.]]> Green Appointed to National Marketing Committee for Small Business Development Centers /news-archive/2022/04/20/green-national-marketing-committee/ Wed, 20 Apr 2022 19:45:56 +0000 /news/?p=81394 ... Green Appointed to National Marketing Committee for Small Business Development Centers]]> ā€œI’m excited to be part of a national team focused on effectively telling stories and sharing data to showcase the work of the Small Business Development Center network,ā€ Green said. ā€œServing on the national Marketing and Communications Committee also provides an opportunity to learn from peers in other parts of the country and to share successes from Arkansas with them.ā€ In her new role, Green will help develop strategies and tactics to promote the nation’s largest small business assistance network. The Marketing and Communications Committee is one of seven committees that address the national priorities of the association. Working closely with America’s SBDC staff and Board of Directors, the committee supports the national network’s marketing and communications strategies and activities. Some of these include planning for national SBDC Day, preparing the annual report, providing communication tools and resources for state and local SBDCs, and branding. Green received her bachelor’s degree from Lyon College and earned a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Mississippi. She joined ASBTDC in 2008, where she manages ASBTDC branding, marketing, and communication. ā€œI most enjoy learning and sharing the stories of the entrepreneurs ASBTDC serves,ā€ Green said. ā€œThey have such different backgrounds and types of businesses but a similar creative spirit and ingenuity that I admire.ā€ She was recognized as the Arkansas State Star by the Association of Small Business Development Centers in 2014. She has presented on social media marketing at the America’s SBDC national conference and has served as a resource for new marketing professionals in the national network. “Gwen is an exceptional marketing and communications professional,ā€ ASBTDC State Director Laura Fine said. ā€œHer extensive experience leading ASBTDC’s marketing, communications, and branding for the past 14 years makes her a great choice for this committee. She is well respected in the national network, and I am thrilled that her talents will be used to elevate the work of America’s SBDCs and the 63 member programs in our national network.”]]> Small Business Specialist Lee Retires from ASBTDC After 27 Years /news-archive/2022/03/31/tim-lee-retirement/ Thu, 31 Mar 2022 13:37:37 +0000 /news/?p=81253 ... Small Business Specialist Lee Retires from ASBTDC After 27 Years]]> If you’ve never met Lee in person, you may recognize him as the man around campus who is always sporting an iconic Indiana Jones hat. ā€œMy family gave me that replica Indiana Jones hat over a decade ago, and I’m on my third hat now,ā€ he said. For ASBTDC, Lee has been at the forefront of technology and learning, serving as the organization’s webmaster while also creating and leading training for small businesses on all things web, from e-commerce to analytics. He also led several technology workshops at the national America’s SBDC annual conference. “Tim is highly versatile, and his combination of technical and soft skills contributed to many successful projects,ā€ said ASBTDC State Director Laura Fine. ā€œI always appreciated his can-do attitude and willingness to take on any project, from cybersecurity to disaster recovery to resources for deaf and hard-of-hearing entrepreneurs. It has been a pleasure working alongside Tim for almost 27 years and seeing the impact he has had on ASBTDC, ĢĒŠÄVlog“«Ć½ Little Rock, and the Arkansas small business community.” After starting out his life in Little Rock, Lee left Arkansas with his family at the young age of two to follow his father’s career in the U.S. Navy. A self-described military brat, Lee received a global education while growing up around the world from Virginia to Panama. The family returned to Arkansas in 1970 when Lee’s father retired from military service and went on to work as an assistant registrar at ĢĒŠÄVlog“«Ć½ Little Rock. On April 22, 1977, his parents’ anniversary, Lee followed his father’s footsteps to join the military, choosing to enter the U.S. Air Force. A veteran of both Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, he served tours in England, Italy, Greece, and Korea during his 18-year career and received the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters. A lifelong learner, Lee used his time abroad to learn multiple languages and earn several degrees. Throughout his life, he’s studied a total of seven languages, including American Sign Language, English, Greek, Italian, Korean, Spanish, and Russian. His degrees include an Associate of Applied Science in Avionics Navigation Systems Technology and an Associate of Applied Science in Disaster Preparedness Technology from the Community College of the Air Force and a Bachelor of Science in Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. As his retirement from the Air Force approached in 1995, Lee’s mother, who was anxious to have him return home, would send him newspaper clippings of job listings in Arkansas. One was for a position at the ĢĒŠÄVlog“«Ć½ Little Rock small business center that involved traveling around the communities in the Arkansas Delta to teach people how to use the Internet and computer programs like Microsoft Word and Excel.
Tim Lee leads a cybersecurity workshop for small business owners.

Tim Lee leads a cybersecurity workshop for small business owners.

He still fondly recalls this as his favorite project during his career at ASBTDC. ā€œMy first project, where I drove around teaching people how to use the Internet, was my favorite,ā€ Lee said. ā€œIt was a lot of work, and those were long days, but it was very rewarding. I got reintroduced to our state. I think we did a lot of great work in economic development and teaching business owners the value of having a website.ā€ More recently, Lee has helped small businesses generate sales with their online presence. With Lee’s guidance, Ekko Barnhill of Barnhill Orchards in Lonoke . The family-owned farm and market launched its online store in 2020. ā€œI didn’t even know what I didn’t know, and Timothy is a wealth of knowledge,ā€ said Barnhill. Since his military retirement, Lee has served as an advocate for veterans. He’s a longtime instructor of the Boots to Business course at Little Rock Air Force Base, a Small Business Administration transition assistance program for service members leaving active duty. When Arkansas units were deployed, he also voluntarily worked weekends preparing small business owners in the Arkansas National Guard for deployment and representing the ASBTDC at 30, 60, and 90-day reintegration events. In 2020, he was named the national Boots to Business Instructor of the Year by the SBA Office of Veterans Business Development.
Tim Lee receives the national Boots to Business Instructor of the Year Award in 2020.

Tim Lee receives the national Boots to Business Instructor of the Year Award in 2020.

In 2016, Lee received the Staff Achievement Award for Personal Growth for his work with the Deaf community. After taking ASL classes with his wife Connie, Lee presented an idea to produce training videos for those who are deaf and hard of hearing. ASBTDC was awarded a $95,000 grant for the project, and he developed courses on and and worked with ASL interpreters to deliver the material. Once he retires, one of Lee’s goals is to finish his associate degree in ASL at ĢĒŠÄVlog“«Ć½ Little Rock, a promise he made to one of his professors that he intends to keep. However, he’s starting his retirement by ticking off one of his lifelong goals. After an April 12 bus trip to Georgia, Lee will begin a solo 470-mile hike along the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Damascus, Virginia. He previously hiked other shorter sections of the Appalachian Trail. ā€œI’ve wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail ever since I read the book, ā€˜Walking with Spring,’ when I was a teenager,ā€ Lee said. ā€œI always liked the concept. I had a heart attack last July. This is part of my recovery. I train three times a week on a treadmill while wearing 20 pounds of rice in my backpack.ā€ When Lee returns from his solo hike in June, he also plans to dedicate time to taking interesting college classes and doing volunteer work. Lee’s community service record includes serving on the Arkansas Governor’s Earthquake Council and the Arkansas Governor’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation Council, where he represented the business and industry sector. In addition to serving as a volunteer and disaster management instructor with American Red Cross, Lee is also a long-time licensed HAM Radio operator and member of the Central Arkansas Radio Emergency Net (CAREN) radio club. CAREN is the state leader in emergency communications, SKYWARN, Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), public service event support, and training for emergency communications response. Lee uses his skills to volunteer as a radio operator at events like races and marathons. He received the Tommie Black KE5JNR Spirit of Ham Radio Award in 2019 from CAREN. ā€œI often volunteer with marathons and bike races like the Tour de Rock to keep tabs on the race, and we can call in the police if someone needs help,ā€ Lee said. ā€œIt’s a lot of fun, and it’s one of my ways to give back to the community.ā€]]>
ASBTDC Presents 1st Digital Marketing Masterclass, As Reliance on Online Tools Soars Among Small Businesses Since Covid /news-archive/2022/03/29/asbtdc-digital-marketing-masterclass/ Tue, 29 Mar 2022 12:43:57 +0000 /news/?p=81225 ... ASBTDC Presents 1st Digital Marketing Masterclass, As Reliance on Online Tools Soars Among Small Businesses Since Covid]]> Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is offering its first-ever Digital Marketing Masterclass in April. Shane Barker will lead the virtual course from California. Barker, founder of Clout Consulting LLC, is a digital marketing consultant who specializes in e-commerce, web design and development, social media marketing, lead generation and email marketing. His Marketing Growth Podcast ranks among the top 40 in the business category for Apple podcasts. He also is a contributor for Inc., Forbes, HuffPost and more than 100 other publications. In addition, he has conducted numerous webinars and learning sessions. After thousands of one-on-one consulting sessions with hundreds of businesses, Barker knows how to help small companies accelerate their online business. “For many small businesses, digital marketing has become a lifeline that helped them survive during the pandemic,” said Barker. “This is a course designed to help small businesses and entrepreneurs navigate the online world and understand how they can leverage digital marketing for their business.” Over four virtual sessions April 19 and 21, the masterclass will equip Arkansas companies to create new opportunities and multiple revenue streams by building on their existing digital marketing plan and online presence. The masterclass offers eight hours of instruction and hands-on practice. Participants will also receive content calendars, e-books, and other resources and tools. The high-level course is intended for businesses that already have a website and social media and are ready to develop a sustainable digital marketing strategy. Registration fee is $150. To provide the best online learning environment, ASBTDC is limiting the class to 15 participants and taking applications. Visit for details or to apply.]]> ASBTDC Helps Student Entrepreneurs with Build Your Own Business Initiative /news-archive/2022/02/15/asbtdc-business-initiative/ Tue, 15 Feb 2022 13:55:45 +0000 /news/?p=80947 ... ASBTDC Helps Student Entrepreneurs with Build Your Own Business Initiative]]> ASBTDC introduced the Build Your Own Business (BYOB) program for ĢĒŠÄVlog“«Ć½ Little Rock students who want to become entrepreneurs, start a side business or startup company, or have research with commercial potential. ASBTDC is offering a free three-part webinar series this semester as well as free business consulting for students with entrepreneurial goals. The spring 2022 webinars include:
  • Getting Ready to BYOB – Feb. 25 – Discussing what it means to be an entrepreneur, and what it means to be ready to Build Your Own Business.
  • How to BYOB – March 16 – Laying out the process of starting your own business.
  • BYOB Startup Story: Flyway Brewing – April 22 – Sharing how local brewing company Flyway Brewing started. Learn about the humble beginnings of the iconic beer and how owner Matt Foster built his own business.
The virtual Zoom sessions will be from 2-3 p.m. and will count towards a career development Career Catalyst badge for School of Business majors. On the first and third Fridays of each month, ASBTDC business consultants will provide virtual office hours exclusively for ĢĒŠÄVlog“«Ć½ Little Rock students from 1-4 p.m. Visit to register for the webinars and for more information on the program.]]>
4 States Collaborate on National Science Foundation SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab Virtual Accelerator /news-archive/2022/01/28/asbtdc-lab-accelerator/ Fri, 28 Jan 2022 17:23:47 +0000 /news/?p=80934 ... 4 States Collaborate on National Science Foundation SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab Virtual Accelerator]]> In the effort, the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, based at ĢĒŠÄVlog“«Ć½ Little Rock, joins three other recipients of Federal and State Technology Partnership Program grants:
  • Montana Innovation Partnership powered by Montana State University TechLink Center
  • Arrowhead Center’s NM FAST at New Mexico State University
  • Wyoming Small Business Development Center
Together, the partners are offering the SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab – NSF, an intensive four-week virtual accelerator, starting March 29. The Proposal Lab will show companies from the four states how to prepare winning proposals for NSF’s Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer program. The timing of the accelerator precedes the agency’s June application deadline. ā€œEarly-stage and established Arkansas companies with ideas for products and services that are new to the market and align with one or more of NSF’s technology topic areas are encouraged to apply for the Proposal Lab,ā€ said ASBTDC’s Innovation Specialist Rebecca Todd. Participation in the accelerator is free, but spots are limited. Arkansas companies may apply online through Feb. 28 atĀ . With NSF, Project Pitch Comes First The NSF requires applicants to have an approved Project Pitch prior to submitting an SBIR/STTR proposal. Only companies with agency-approved pitches can participate in the Proposal Lab. The Four-State FAST Collaborative will host a Project Pitch webinar on Feb. 10. Register for the free webinar at . NSF is one of 11 federal agencies that participate in SBIR and one of five STTR agencies. Considered “America’s Seed Fund,” SBIR/STTR provides $4 billion in competitive grants and contracts to small companies annually. ASBTDC State Director Laura Fine expects the four-state partnership to build on the success of the center’s Lab2Launch SBIR/STTR accelerator program. ā€œThe last two years, we’ve had a great response to the virtual Lab2Launch format. The companies learn a great deal from each other, so having the chance to engage with participants and leaders from other states will enrich the experience even more,ā€ she said. With funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the members of the Four-State FAST Collaborative all support small businesses developing advanced technologies and seek to improve SBIR/STTR outcomes for women-owned, rural-based and socially or economically disadvantaged small businesses.Ā For more information, contact Todd atĀ rctodd@ualr.eduĀ or 501-916-6721.]]>
ĢĒŠÄVlog“«Ć½ Little Rock, ASBTDC Recognized in Arkansas Business Best of Business Awards /news-archive/2022/01/11/best-business-awards/ Tue, 11 Jan 2022 15:19:14 +0000 /news/?p=80837 ... ĢĒŠÄVlog“«Ć½ Little Rock, ASBTDC Recognized in Arkansas Business Best of Business Awards]]> The ĢĒŠÄVlog“«Ć½ Little Rock School of Business was named the Best Business School in Arkansas. ā€œOur School of Business, with its AACSB international-accredited status, ranks in the top five percent of business schools worldwide,ā€ said Dr. Robert Mitchell, director of the School of Business. ā€œThis year, our undergraduate program was recognized as one of the top-tiered business schools in the U.S. by U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges Edition.ā€ ĢĒŠÄVlog“«Ć½ Little Rock School of Business students experience teaching, research, and service opportunities that serve as a foundation for their future business careers. ā€œOur business programs differentiate themselves by incorporating high-tech components across the curriculum as well as by offering high-flex course offerings, giving students the opportunity to attend class on campus, via Zoom, or fully online,ā€ Mitchell said. ā€œOur undergraduate and graduate programs are designed to provide career acceleration in today’s competitive job market.ā€ Meanwhile, ASBTDC was named the Best Business Consulting Firm in Arkansas. “Being named the Best Business Consulting Firm in Arkansas is truly an honor for ASBTDC,ā€ State Director Laura Fine said. ā€œI am very pleased that our team is being recognized for its outstanding work to help small businesses start, grow, and succeed. Building on four decades of experience consulting with Arkansas’ entrepreneurs and small businesses, we launched a strategic initiative two years ago to expand our consulting capacity.ā€ Since then, ASBTDC has added four new regional offices to make consulting services more accessible to both rural and urban markets. They have also engaged partners with a wide range of expertise, experience, and industry knowledge to collaborate with ASBTDC’s full-time consultants. ā€œToday, we have a team of more than 75 people focused on making ASBTDC the first and best resource for small business assistance in the state,ā€ Fine said. ā€œWe have a passion for client success, and our goal is to support Arkansas entrepreneurs with a suite of services to help position their businesses for growth.ā€ The winners of the awards were selected by a panel of thousands of employees, employers, and entrepreneurs in Arkansas.]]>