HUNTSVILLE — Michelle Kloske, senior business advisor for the University of Alabama in Huntsville SBDC, has been named the 2022 State Star by America’s SBDC.
Kloske was recognized for her contributions in serving Alabama’s small business community. America’s SBDC is the national association of Small Business Development Centers. The award was presented at the national SBDC conference.
“I am so proud to have represented UAH on a national level,” Kloske said. “At the UAH SBDC, we work with a wide variety of clients, from cottage bakers to engineers. We offer no-cost advising and training services to help businesses start and grow. Starting a business in Alabama can be confusing, and we work to help entrepreneurs to achieve their goals.
“I truly love my job.
“The State Star award is given annually to an outstanding business advisor from each SBDC network. Criteria include showing a strong commitment to small business success, making significant contributions to the state SBDC program and being an exemplary performer.
“Michelle Kloske exemplifies the mission of the UAH SBDC to help entrepreneurs and small business owners start and grow their businesses,” said Jason Greene, dean of the UAH College of Business. “These small businesses are essential to the economic vitality of our community, and Michelle has worked tirelessly to help them thrive in the face of challenges over the last few years. She is a star who shines brightly in our community.
“We are very proud of Michelle and her dedication to her clients that this recognition reflects.”
At the outset of the pandemic, Kloske was instrumental in pivoting the SBDC training programs at the UAH SBDC to an online virtual format, allowing the center to offer high-quality online training programs in demand by a large client base during challenging times.
“Early on in the pandemic, I shifted our training programs online out of necessity,” said Kloske, a 1993 graduate of the UAH College of Business. “Since January 2021, the UAH SBDC has hosted 104 live webinars to educate small businesses statewide.”
Kloske has advised approximately 600 clients over the past two years through SBDC events and one-on-one advisory meetings. She has also supported more than 50 business
start-ups, continuing to facilitate the center’s How to Start a Business program each month.
Kloske has proven to be one of the state’s top performers in helping entrepreneurs start
their business in Alabama. Her training and outreach efforts over the past year have enabled the UAH SBDC to grow its client base and increase its visibility in the small business community it serves.
“Michelle Kloske has been such a valuable resource for starting our engineering company,” said Jason Pohly of Romach Technologies. “She is so incredibly helpful, encouraging and
kind. We really appreciate her.”
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