Changes have come to the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business’ Small Business Development Center (SBDC).  The SBDC is now housed in the School of Business’ Center for Excellence in Entrepreneurship (CEE) and led by Dr. Michele Migliuolo, the Center’s executive director.  Michele, a serial entrepreneur who co-founded five tech startups, has experience with Ohio University’s SBDC and is well known and respected in the regional entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Moreover, after 34 years of guiding small businesses, Dr. Mary McKinney retired at the end of January, 2020 as director of the Center.  In February, Richard Longo, a long-time SBDC consultant and successful entrepreneur, was named Interim Director of the SBDC.  A search for the permanent director will take place later this year.

“With our SBDC now integrated into the CEE, I look forward to helping our Interim Director Rich Longo seize opportunities to elevate the role of Duquesne students, add value to our consultants’ work, and enhance the SBDC’s service outreach in the region, particularly to emerging technology entrepreneurs,” says Michele.

This integration will broaden and deepen the SBDC’s sources of grant funding, elevate its visibility and reputation, and enhance the alignment of SBDC activities with the School of Business’ strategic goals. The SBDC will also serve as a formal connection between the University and aspiring small business owners in the region.

“Housing the SBDC within the CEE will make it more agile and enable it to provide the community with more comprehensive services.  This will benefit the priority neighborhoods outlined in the University’s ’18–’23 Strategic Plan,” says Vice President for Community Engagement Bill Generett, Esq.

Duquesne business students will have increased educational opportunities to serve community members as consultants, providing services such as market research.  The SBDC also plans to offer more traveling workshops to surrounding counties and communities outside of the city.

“Under Dr. Migliuolo’s leadership, we will build on the Duquesne SBDC’s record of success and take it to new heights of impact and recognition,” says Dr. Dean McFarlin, dean of the School of Business. “I want to thank Dr. Mary McKinney for her passionate commitment to our SBDC over the years and wish her all the best.”

For more information on Duquesne’s SBDC, visit duq.edu/sbdc