Annice Brown
The North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) is pleased to announce Annice Brown of the Western Carolina University SBTDC office in Asheville as the 2014 State Star for North Carolina. Annice was awarded and honored during a ceremony at the America’s SBDC Annual Conference on September 9, 2014 at the Gaylord Texan Hotel and Conference Center in Grapevine, Texas.
During 12 years at the NC SBTDC, Brown has counseled over 528 women business owners and many more who were part of a team, such as husband-and-wife or partners. She has helped at least 100 local woman-owned businesses grow from start-up to successful business.
Brown is committed to the natural products sector in Western North Carolina. She is a founder/board member of the N.C. Natural Products Association. Because of her experience, she has been invited for the past two years to moderate a panel for the Southeast Women’s Herbal Conference, which draws over 1,000 women annually. She is also a certified coach for Best Year Yet, specializing in coaching of woman-owned and woman-managed businesses.
Each year, one top performer from each state within the national network of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) is recognized for his or her contributions to his or her SBDC program. Each top performer is awarded the “State Star” designation for his or her state at America’s SBDC Annual Conference. Employees are chosen for their exemplary performance, making a significant contribution to their state or regional SBDC program, and for showing a strong commitment to small business.
The NC SBTDC provides one-on-one business counseling services to small and medium size businesses across North Carolina. Brown’s area includes fourteen counties in the western part of the state. She advises clients on: loan package development, business planning, marketing plans, financial analysis, project management, technology transfer, branding, and strategic planning.