Manley Named State Star

VALDOSTA -- Valdosta State University Small Business Development Center Assistant Director Scott Manley is the 2009 State Star for Georgia -- an honor given by the Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC).

The association recognized Manley for his significant contributions to Georgia Small Business Development Center programs and his strong commitment to entrepreneurs throughout the state.

“It is an honor to accept this award and to have the opportunity to help so many people achieve the dream succeeding in their own business, particularly in these tough economic times,” said Manley, who was presented the award at the ASBDC’s 29th annual conference in mid-September.

In April, the Georgia SBDC named Manley Consultant of the Year for his expertise and passion working with small businesses as well as the outreach programs he produces. And in 2006, the nationally recognized expert in QuickBooks and new product development received the Distinguished Service Award from the ASBDC.

Manley, who joined the Valdosta SBDC in 1998, earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with emphasis in Management and a Master of Business Administration, both from Valdosta State University. He serves on the Business Advisory Board of VSU’s chapter of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and on the Economic Restructuring Committee for Valdosta’s Main Street program.

The ASBDC is the Small Business Administration’s largest partnership program, providing management and technical assistance to help Americans start, run and grow their own businesses. With about 1,000 centers across the nation - including the one at Valdosta State University - America’s SBDC network provided business consulting to approximately 200,000 clients, training for more than 400,000 attendees, and other forms of management and technical assistance to approximately 600,000 small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs last year.

For more information about the Valdosta SBDC, go to http://www.valdosta.edu/sbdc/