SPOKANE, Wash.—Phon Sivongxay, a certified business advisor with the Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Highline College and StartZone Program Manager, has been named the network’s 2026 State Star. Being named State Star is the highest honor awarded to an SBDC employee and is celebrated annually at the America’s SBDC national training event in September.
“The SBDC State Star award recognizes an advisor who provides exceptional support to small business owners while also strengthening our network,” said Rich French, interim state director of the Washington SBDC. “Phon’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurs who often face barriers to business ownership has made a meaningful impact across Washington state. She leads with compassion, expertise and an unwavering belief in her clients’ potential.”
Sivongxay is one of nearly 35 business advisors working in communities across the state to provide one-to-one, confidential, no-cost advising on a variety of business challenges, from financial management and loan applications to business planning and strategic growth. She is one of four advisors located at Highline College, one of the network’s subrecipient partners.
In 2025, Sivongxay provided assistance to more than 120 business owners. She also helped clients access more than $1.2 million in financing and achieve more than $3 million in increased sales.
Clients describe Sivongxay as knowledgeable, encouraging and deeply invested in their success.
“My SBDC advisor, Phon Sivongxay, guided me every step of the way,” one client wrote in a recent impact survey. “When I had questions, she had an answer or a path to an answer. With her partnership, I was able to navigate all the systems and services that are steps along the path to self-employment.”
Another client credited Sivongxay with helping build confidence during the early stages of entrepreneurship. “At the beginning, I was terribly unsure,” the client wrote. “Phon gave me guidance, pointed me to services that helped and generally kept me always moving forward.”
Sivongxay said she enjoys helping entrepreneurs turn their ideas into sustainable businesses and believes small business ownership can create lasting opportunities.
“I want clients to know they are not alone,” she said. “Starting or growing a business can feel overwhelming, but having someone to guide and support you can make all the difference.”
Before joining the Washington SBDC, Sivongxay built a career spanning more than 25 years in banking and real estate. She began working in residential and commercial lending before advancing to compliance manager, where she oversaw denied applications and adverse loan actions under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
She also owned and operated a Thai restaurant in Renton for eight years, employing immigrants, refugees and individuals with limited English proficiency.
“That experience taught me firsthand how hard business owners work and the sacrifices they make,” Sivongxay said. “It also showed me how entrepreneurship can create opportunity not only for the owner, but for entire families and communities.”
In addition to her work as an advisor, Sivongxay volunteers her time providing financial education and training to immigrant and refugee families. She is fluent in Lao and Thai and is known throughout the network for her passion for helping entrepreneurs access resources, build confidence and overcome barriers to success.
Her specialties include commercial and residential lending, financial and business plan development, business startups, restaurant businesses, adult family homes, childcare businesses and supporting entrepreneurs navigating ITIN-related processes.
Sivongxay received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Washington and began working with Highline College’s StartZone program in 2008. She became a certified Washington SBDC business advisor in 2018.
The Washington SBDC is part of a national SBDC program known as the America’s SBDC and is managed by a cooperative agreement between Washington State University (WSU) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). About half the funding for SBDC services is from the SBA and the other half is from multiple state and local funding partners, including the Washington State Department of Commerce, WSU, other institutions of higher education—including Highline College, economic development agencies and civic and business groups.
For more information about the Washington SBDC, visit wsbdc.org. To learn more about the Washington SBDC at Highline College, visit sbdc.highline.edu.
