Business Development Center reopens at CSC
The Nebraska Business Development Center at Chadron State College is back in business. For more than a quarter century, Chadron State was the site of one of several NBDC satellite offices across the state, but a reduction in Nebraska’s share of federal funding for small business support and a reduction in the state budget caused the CSC center’s services to be discontinued in 2004. The closing contributed to the retirement of Cliff Hanson, a CSC business professor and director of the center for
With Nebraska’s revenue back to normal and Chadron State’s new administration headed by President Janie Park eager to lend a helping hand that will bolster the area’s economy, the center was reopened this fall with all-new personnel.
In its heyday, the CSC center had up to 100 clients annually. The region it serves ranges from the Wyoming line to the east side of Cherry County along Highway 20 and dips as far south as Hemingford and Hyannis.
NBDC provides direct management and technical assistance to businesses of every dimension. Most of them are new or have owners who are thinking of expanding. Dozens of people who are considering opening a business have been among the center’s clients through the years.
The new director of the CSC center is Dr. James Koehn (pronounced Kern), who is in his second year at the college as an assistant professor of business and economics. A native of Texas, he’s a certified public accountant and also has a law degree. Although he’s relatively new to Nebraska, he’s already on the Education Advisory Committee of the Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy.
“We’re ready and eager to help wherever we can,” said Koehn. “We have a variety of services that can be helpful to both new and existing businesses. Most of our services are offered without cost. Anyone who has thoughts of opening a business, buying one or expanding can contact us without any obligation. We’ll chat and see what we can do.”
Koehn said some of the services the center offers include:
--Discover opportunities for improving a business.
--Evaluate the prospects for a new business.
--Review and critique a current business plan.
--Conduct market research using demographic data, surveys and focus groups.
--Assist with marketing strategies.
--Arrange for financial services.
Also deeply involved in the center at Chadron State is Dr. Tim Donahue, another CSC business professor who has a combination of academic and practical business experience.
Donahue formerly was director of the Minnesota Small Business Development Centers and has owned and operated several small businesses. In 1983, he was named the “Small Business Champion” by the Independent Business Association of Minnesota.”
Lisa Gould, a native of Omaha who has lived in Chadron the past year, recently joined the center as an office assistant. She has 19 years of clerical experience in the accounting department of a large business in Omaha.
Two Chadron State business majors, Hillory Doerr of Brunswick, Neb., and Kayla Park of Casper, Wyo., are interns in the CSC center and help with the research and development of the business plans.
The office is located in the first floor of the Burkhiser Technology Center. It may be reached by calling 308-432-6282 or by e-mail at nbdc@csc.edu.
--By Con Marshall, Director of Information
Photo information: This is the staff for the recently reopened Nebraska Business Development Center at Chadron State College. The director is James Koehn (left) while Dr. Tim Donahue serves as a the assistant director and consultant. Two Chadron State business majors, Hillory Dorr (front) and Kayla Park, are on the support staff. The office is located on the lower level of the Burkhiser Technology Center.
Category: Campus News