EL CENTRO – Southwestern College Superintendent/President Dr. Melinda Nish’s ability to guide local small business resources during difficult economic times earned her an appreciation award by the San Diego Small Business Association (SBA) recently.
Nish was the chosen recipient of the District Director’s Special Appreciation Award as part of the San Diego SBA’s Small Business Week Awards. The winner of the Special Appreciation Award is chosen directly by San Diego SBA District Director Ruben Garcia.
Nish was selected for her leadership of, and investment in, Southwestern College’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) while the centers faced economic challenges, the SBA said.
“She has an open, collaborative management style that directly identifies and works to resolve problems,” the May 6 SBA event program read. “Without her leadership the SBDC program would have faltered and continued to decline.”
Nish said it was an honor to accept the award on behalf of Southwestern College.
“Our business counselors love helping and watching small business succeed,” she said. “The centers truly run off of their passion.”
Southwestern has plans to build a business hub at the National City Higher Education Center, Nish said. The new venture is being called the Center for Business Advancement (CBA) and will combine the SBDC, the San Diego Contracting Opportunities Center and the Center for International Trade Development.
“It (the CBA) will be the place to do business,” Nish said. “Brown Field and the Chula Vista Bayfront are being redeveloped, the Chula Vista Millenia project has begun, the City of Chula Vista now owns the land for a new university and cross-border business links are at an all-time high. It is the perfect time to expand our services to small business owners.”
The U.S. SBA is a federal agency that was founded in 1953 to invest and provide assistance to small business through loans, loan guarantees, contracts, counseling sessions and other means.
“As America celebrates the 52nd Anniversary of Small Business Week, this is an excellent opportunity to honor the small businesses that have helped make our nation great,” Garcia said. “SBA has helped well over 30 million Americans start, manage and grow their businesses, placing tens of billions of dollars in loans into the hands of entrepreneurs in all sectors of the economy.”
The SBDC has provided guidance and resources to San Diego and Imperial Valley County small businesses and entrepreneurs for 20 years. Its efforts last year created 60 new businesses, lead to the creation of 222 new jobs and saved 151 workers from layoffs.
For more information about the SBDC visit http://www.growmybiz.org/.
SBA Award: Southwestern College Superintendent/President Dr. Melinda Nish receives District Director’s Special Appreciation Award. Pictured L- R: Charles J. Tarquini, executive vice president & chief credit officer of Community Valley Bank; Nish; Jill Andrews, SBA deputy district director, San Diego; Ruben Garcia, SBA district director.
