Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Katz.
Hi Laura, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
B.S. Organization Behavior & Leadership, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY.
M.B.A. Marketing, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY.
C.D.M.P. Certified Digital Marketing Professional, Digital Marketing Institute and American Marketing Association
In 2008 my family relocated from NY to Athens Ga for my husband’s career. Prior to moving to Athens, I had mostly worked for larger corporations in marketing and business development. Through my corporate career, I have helped develop, price and bring to market new products for companies such as Motorola, Hewlett-Packard, Cisco and Levi’s. Being in marketing and business development required extensive travel, covering the Northeast, Southeast and Southern CA. I had decided that when I started working again, after getting the family settled in Ga, I wanted to use my MBA and experience to help my community.
In 2011, I was fortunate to obtain a position with the University of Georgia’s Small Business Development Center as a business consultant and started working with regional small business owners helping them to start up, grow and expand. In 2014, I was awarded SBDC Consultant of the Year and in 2015 nationally recognized as an America’s SBDC State Star. During this period, I was promoted to Athens Area Director, achieved the rank of Associate Public Service and Outreach faculty. I have been nominated for and received several accolades: four SBDC Flewellen Awards for consulting excellence (2013, 2015, 2018 & 2020) and a SBDC Program Innovation of the Year Award (2017). In 2021 earned the rank of Senior Associate Public Service & Outreach faculty, which is equal to that of a professor.
I am an internationally certified digital marketing professional (2021) and a nationally recognized speaker on Marketing, Business Development, and Agribusiness (2015-present).
What I love most about the UGA SBDC is utilizing my education and work experience to help small business owners transform their businesses.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The UGA SBDC is located throughout the state of Georgia with 18 offices, five of which are in the metro Atlanta area. All of the consultants around the state are hardworking and passionate about helping their community. We are required to show impact for the federal and state taxpayer dollars that fund our no-direct cost consulting services and resources. In addition to working with small business owners, we are required to develop and teach continuing education business courses for our communities. We give presentations to educate the public about how the SBDC can help small business. We meet with lenders, chambers and other referral resources to connect with business owners who need our assistance. Finally, we connect with local program partners who provide additional sponsorship monies that help us to bridge a small gap in our funding. In order to be promoted, there is a process that requires you to become state and nationally-recognized expert in your field of study. This consists of developing and teaching programs throughout the state and at national conferences, and proving that the information presented was used by other SBDC’s and had impact in their communities. All this information is documented in a dossier and reviewed by a faculty committee prior to being moved forward in the promotion process. Many consultants never attempt to go up for promotion due to the all the additional work and effort of putting together a dossier. I am very goal oriented and achieved both associate and senior associate public service and outreach faculty with in 10 years.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
All the business consultants are required to have an MBA and industry experience in their area of expertise. We must be able to be a “generalist” and consult on a variety of business topics such as marketing, finance, HR, operations, etc. Then we need to develop an expertise that can be used to co-consult with colleagues, develop training programs, present at national conferences and continue with professional development to stay relevant. My expertise is in marketing and business development. I have expertise in this field from my corporate career and from continued study of the field. Some of the things I do to stay relevant is a blog on a variety of business topics, attend seminars and webinars, and obtain industry-specific certifications. The thing that I am most proud of are my client successes, especially when they are recognized on a state and national level. I have nominated two clients for a national SBA Small business person of the year award, and both obtained the recognition. One business attended the award ceremony at the White House and met the president. I am also proud of the small business owners that I have worked with throughout my tenure at UGA SBDC. I have watched them grow from just starting out to hiring employees, purchasing buildings, expanding across the nation and sometimes internationally and, some even selling their business when they retire. It is so gratifying to drive throughout my community and the state and see all the different businesses I’ve worked with over the years.
What matters most to you? Why?
A strong local economy matters to me most. It is the small business owners that drive our local and state economy. They hire your neighbors, they produce goods and services that we all need to survive and they pay local taxes that support our infrastructure. It was especially apparent during the covid pandemic when consumers were not able to find the goods and services they needed from national chains. Who did they turn to? The local small businesses who were the farmers, the makers, the artists, the restauranters and the doctors of our community. They are the ones who stepped up to the challenge and started pivoting their business models to offer goods and services online and curbside. Some restaurants started food trucks that would go from neighborhood to neighborhood. One local business started making and donating food to help their neighbors who may have lost jobs or had gotten sick. This is what community is all about. Stepping up when the going gets tough.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.georgiasbdc.org/athens
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ugasbdc.athens
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauradkatz/
- Twitter: @lkatzSBDC
- Other: https://lauradkatzbizdev.blogspot.com/
Image Credits
Headshot: Ms. Kelly Kraft SBA Small Business Award Presidential Proclamation: Ms. Stacy Johnson Client’s holding signs: Ms. Stacy Johnson Wallet Hub Article: Screenshot by Laura Katz Innovative Program of the year Award; ASBDC Consultant of the year State Star photo: Ms. Katz presenting program; Ms. Katz presentation at Engagement Scholarship International Conference, University of Minnesota; Ms. Katz presenting at UGA SBDC Athens Center annual Women’s Business Expo: Ms. Stacy Johnson
