Joel Youngs to be honored as Iowa SBDC State Star  

AMES, Iowa — Joel Youngs, Regional Director of the Eastern Iowa Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Davenport, has been named the 2018 Iowa “State Star” by America’s SBDC Iowa.

America’s SBDC annually recognizes SBDC personnel for demonstrating exemplary work performance, significantly contributing to the organization’s economic development efforts, and showing a strong commitment to small businesses.

“Joel’s boundless energy and willingness to take on new projects is a major factor to moving our network forward.  He works tirelessly and selflessly for the small businesses within the state of Iowa,” says Lisa Shimkat, State Director, America’s SBDC Iowa.

Dr. Ellen Kabat Lensch, Vice Chancellor of Economic and Workforce Development at Eastern Iowa Community College, adds, “The SBDC State Star Award provides well deserved recognition to Joel Youngs.  He is a tremendous asset to the small business community of Iowa. I can think of no one else that each day brings a passion for helping his clients and their small businesses.”

Youngs has been the Regional Director of the Eastern Iowa SBDC since January 2016 and was previously a Regional Director for the Illinois SBDC network.  He will be recognized at a special reception held during the America’s SBDC national fall conference in Washington, D.C. in September.

America’s SBDC Iowa is an outreach program of Iowa State University’s Ivy College of Business. Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity, 3410 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, Hotline: 515-294-1222, email eooffice@iastate.edu.

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, America’s SBDC Iowa has 15 regional assistance centers located strategically across the state. Since program inception in 1981, the SBDC has helped hundreds of thousands of Iowa businesses and entrepreneurs through no fee, confidential, customized, professional business counseling and practical, affordable training workshops.

For more information on America’s SBDC Iowa programs or services, call (515) 294-2030 or visit www.iowasbdc.org.

Contact:
Tricia Janes, America’s SBDC Iowa, 515-294-2030, triciaj@iastate.edu

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