SPOKANE, Wash. — Jennifer Dye has been named the new associate state director of the Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Dye has been the SBDC Center Director at South Puget Sound Community College since 2020 and has been an SBDC business advisor for more than eight years.
The Washington SBDC is a network of more than 40 business advisors and three international trade business advisors working in communities across the state to help entrepreneurs and small business owners start, grow or buy/sell a business.
Sheryl McGrath, the state director of the Washington SBDC, said having Dye in the associate state director position will be an exciting opportunity to foster collaborations and contribute to the economic vitality of communities across the state.
“Jennifer is committed to the growth and development of the SBDC program and is dedicated to small business success,” McGrath said. “Her strategic vision, leadership skills, and passion for supporting entrepreneurs are a perfect complement to the SBDC’s mission, vision and values.”
As the associate state director, Dye will be responsible for the operations of the network. In 2022, business advisors with the Washington SBDC provided one-to-one business advising to more than 3,000 entrepreneurs and small business owners and those SBDC clients credited their advisors with helping them create or save 3,093 jobs and raise more than $116 million in capital financing. SBDC advisors also helped 117 Washington entrepreneurs start a new business in 2022.
“I am both honored and thrilled to be serving Washington small businesses and our entire network in this new capacity,” Dye said. “I have immense respect for our organization and look forward to continued engagement with our leadership team, business advisors, stakeholders and community partners.”
In addition to her work as an SBDC business advisor, Dye has also taught management and marketing courses at the University of Washington, Bothell, and at South Puget Sound Community College. She owned her own martial arts school for nearly 18 years before becoming an SBDC advisor and also founded a non-profit organization focused on providing martial arts scholarships for those in underserved communities, including victims of violence, those suffering from PTSD, the elderly and people with disabilities.
Dye earned an MBA from the University of Washington in 2016, is a graduate of Leadership Eastside and holds numerous professional certifications and licenses.
While the Washington SBDC administrative offices are located in Spokane, Dye’s primary work location will continue to be at the Center for Business and Innovation at South Puget Sound Community College.
Washington State University is the statewide host of the Washington SBDC and most administrative positions and about half the network’s business advisors are employed by Washington State University. Other SBDC business advisors are employed by subrecipient SBDC centers, including those located at South Puget Sound Community College, Highline College, Green River College, Western Washington University, OneRedmond, the Economic Alliance in Okanogan County and the Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship.
The Washington SBDC is a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration and is operated through a cooperative agreement between the SBA and Washington State University.
For more information about the Washington SBDC go to wsbdc.org
