Press Release

Butte College SBDC Business Advisor Recognized as State Star

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 21, 2021

CHICO  – This week Butte College Small Business Development Center Business Advisor Ronn Van Dusen has earned a national designation as the 2021 State Star for the Northern California SBDC program.

Every year Small Business Development Center programs throughout the country nominate a standout representative of the SBDC for their outstanding service to their local business community. Van Dusen, a long-time business finance advisor, was singled out for helping the largest number of clients access loans and investments in the Northern California territory throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past 18-months, Van Dusen assisted in securing 246 loans, grants, and investments in the three-county territory which totaled $19.7 million. He also assisted in the launch of 32 new businesses, helped to retain 690 jobs, and helped to create 85 jobs.

“This has been the most difficult period for small businesses in my history with the SBDC program and it was important to the Norcal SBDC Network to honor the individual that made the most impact in their work,” said Norcal SBDC Associate Region Director Ann Johnson-Stromberg. “Ronn worked with businesses looking for $1,000 and $5,000 COVID-relief grants all the way up to those seeking multi-million loans and each client’s needs were equally important.”

Butte College SBDC is one of 18 Small Business Development Centers in the 36-county Norcal territory. The SBDC is a non-profit organization funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as well as the State of California’s Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). In total, the Norcal SBDC network of centers and programs helped clients access $513 million in capital through its services and was ranked number one in the nation for Federal Fiscal Year 2019/20. 

 “Ronn has this quiet demeanor but the thousands of businesses he has assisted over the past 12 years for our center trust his strategic and effective guidance because he helps them get results,” said Butte College SBDC Director Sophie Konuwa.

Ronn is the epitome of what the State Star designation represents and we are really proud to have him represent the Butte College SBDC and Norcal SBDC

Sophie Konuwa
BUTTE SBDC DIRECTOR

The SBDC is the largest technical assistance provider for small businesses in the U.S. and is part of a national network of nearly 850 centers. The State Star awards are an annual designation for each state’s SBDC program, and winners were officially announced on Aug. 18 as part of a virtual national ceremony for America’s SBDC network. 

For more information about the Butte College SBDC go to https://www.buttecollegesbdc.com/ or call (530) 895-9017.