“The whole purpose [of Small Business Development Center (SBDC)] is to create more jobs, and with this economy, we are becoming an even bigger factor because many future jobs are going to come from small businesses,” stated SBDC Director Todd Tilberg.
Centered out of the North Central State College, SBDC (District 6) serves nine Ohio counties, including Richland, by providing free informative counseling, training, and seminars that are meant to help both start-up and existing businesses.
“Our business background gives us the tools to help people develop business plans and work through financial statements. We really help [entrepreneurs] work through the business thought process; for instance, what kind of vendors license they need, what kind of corporation they should form, or pointing them in the direction of a financial or legal advisor,” stated Tilberg.
SBDC works with entrepreneurs in all industries at all stages of business growth. Some of the local success stories include Terrilynn Brown’s shop, A Mystical Moment in Time; Will and Linda Anderson’s restaurant, Belly Busters BBQ; and Sue Logsdon’s boutique, U Be Dazzled.
“While we want to work with start-ups, another focus I’d like to see us do more is work with existing businesses. A lot of businesses that are already running call up a consultant and pay for that consultation, whereas they could use us for nothing. We have wonderful tools to work with businesses and help them better understand their business by telling them where they’ve been in the past and how to get to the next level,” said Tilberg.
He added that SBDC has the expertise within its office to work with existing businesses and start-ups. “We have a Certified Business Analyst, Michalina, and she’s awesome. She works with a lot with start-ups. And I would like to find myself working with more existing businesses.”
With NCSC as the current host site, Tilberg explained that SBDC is part of the NCSC family, “We couldn’t do this program without our host, and we want to work with their students.”
In addition to its relationship with NCSC, SBDC partners with several area Chamber of Commerce and is searching for other programs they can collaborate with. Tilberg stated, “My goal for next month will be going out into the community and reaching out to economic development offices, chambers, mayors, and banks.”
For the past six months, SBDC has hosted a seminar once a month. Tilberg intends to develop the seminars by adding more featured products.
People also have the opportunity to provide feedback on what they’d like to learn about by going to SBDC’s website.
Prior to working as the director of SBDC, Tilberg spent his first 15 years out of college as a commercial banker. In 2001 he started his own business called Data Image, which he sold in 2011.
“I enjoy working with businesses, and I know both sides of the desk. I know what it’s like being the banker, and I know what it’s like being the business owner, and we look as businesses two very different ways,” stated Tilberg.
Still fairly new to his position, which he started four months ago, Tilberg expressed, “I spent my first month talking to SBDC directors and figuring out what the best practices are. I don’t want to reinvent the wheel if someone else already invented it.” He added, “After I get a good year under my belt I’ll have better understanding of not only the job, but also the area, so we can try to figure out how we can best create opportunities here.”