Welcome to the Consumer Diversity Resource Directory online!

Leaders of businesses in all stages of development are vulnerable to internal and external forces that can threaten their firm’s survival. This publication is one of many SBDC resources that will help your business grow by using smart initiatives that improve the likelihood of you reaching your goals. The entire women and minority-owned business community expresses deep gratitude to Roberta Clay of Small Business Services, Inc. It was her vision, dedication and commitment that enabled this important resource to be published.

Since 1997, the SBDC at Harford Community College has been committed to serving entrepreneurs. A few of our milestones include:

• Pat Hogan, manager of our Women’s Business Program, received the 2004 SBA Maryland’s Women in Business Advocate of the Year award.
• Tyrone Lucas, manager of our Minority Business Development Program, received the 2004 SBA Maryland’s Minority Business Advocate of the Year award.
• Serving almost 1,000 entrepreneurs per year
• Directing almost $20 million of new capital into the county
• Received the Harford Award in 2001
• Recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a “National Model”

We offer several specific services that facilitate the information needed to move your business past the stage of STRUGGLING to SUCCESS, then on the road to SIGNIFICANCE. The SBDC describes how businesses can create sustained value (we call this SIGNIFICANCE), and how the business can be transferred to family or sold for profit. These services are:

• Business Diagnostic/Check-Up to Identify Opportunities
• Counseling/Coaching on Government and Private Programs for Strategy Development and Implementation to Strengthen Women and Minority Owned Businesses
• Learning Teams of Complementary, Non-Competing Businesses for Idea Sharing
• Strategic Resource Management

The SBDC’s Minority Business Development Program (MBDP) offers conferences, information exchanges and workshops designed to educate the minority business entrepreneur on all aspects of developing business, but especially about procurement and certifications processes. We have an advisory board to assist in decision-making; if you are interested in becoming a member of the committee, please contact Greg Williams at 410-939-7008 or rulesds@aol.com

Its sister program, the Women’s Business Program, fosters the efforts of women entrepreneurs by providing sound advice and empathy to emerging and existing women owned businesses. Counseling, breakfast roundtables, workshops and the annual Athena Leadership Breakfast are some current program activities. For more information on volunteering as a committee member, please contact Sheryl Davis-Kohl at 410-297-6600 or Sheryl@beaconstaffing.com

Please contact Pat Hogan at 410-836-4237, ext. 3, or phogan@harford.edu, if you are interested in taking advantage of SBDC services.