Small Business Development Center Network Wins Big with Numerous Nominees

North San Diego Small Business Development Center office administrator Amy Chapman of Oceanside clenched the region’s SBDC State Star award for her longtime efforts as well as initiative shown during the pandemic, serving small businesses during a most challenging time.

Part of the San Diego & Imperial Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, the North SBDC at MiraCosta College in Carlsbad specializes in new business starts, debt finance and government contracting, among other areas — as well as offers services in Spanish, Hindi and Punjabi. The annual State Star award is offered to one SBDC staff member in each state except for Texas and California, where the large states are organized into regions.

“Knowing that my colleagues and co-workers nominated me is the true honor in all of this,” Chapman said. “So many SBDC team members deserve the award this year; I’ve been humbled to learn my contributions are valued and appreciated in this capacity. I think we all sometimes forget that what we do really matters, and this has been a very motivating reminder for me.”

Chapman was stunned when she received the call and wanted to ask, “Are you sure?” she recalled with a laugh.

Helping Small Businesses Battle the Pandemic

“Amy is the heart of the North San Diego SBDC as the office administrator,” said Sudershan Shaunak, director of that office. “She also is the go-to person for anything any other center staff needs. During COVID, Amy held the hands of the advisors and leadership of her center to serve thousands of small businesses.”

While pandemic federal relief programs are wrapping up, the SBDC Network leadership commended its staff and advisors for the monumental work done in assisting the area’s small business owners. The San Diego and Imperial SBDCs have provided over 30,000 hours of one-on-one consulting to over 7,000 business owners and over 2,000 hours of online training to over 22,000 attendees.

Nominees Span Entrepreneurial Strengths

“Our teams made a difference in our communities. At no cost to entrepreneurs,” said Daniel Fitzgerald, acting director of the regional SBDC. “We thank the administration at Southwestern College, the network’s host institution, and the governing board for ongoing support of the SBDC program. That support helps us meet the mission of strengthening the small business ecosystem in our region.”

Other 2021 State Star nominees include Miguel Magdaleno, Wes Pawl, Rosalva Sandoval, Danielle Sparks, Adriana Taboada, and Gokcen Topbas. Nominations were spread across locations and qualities including refugee business assistance, embracing remote technology, efficiency, positivity, hard work, and deep business knowledge.

“These people, including Amy, create a steady stream of valuable support for our economic backbone,” Fitzgerald added. “Amy has been a cornerstone of the network for many years, and I know the North SBDC team for sure knows how amazing she is — but also the administration teams from other centers as well know how invaluable her knowledge and experience are. She’s a passionate, committed team member of ours. She’s always willing to get the job done, looks out for the small business owner, is highly adaptable, and truly a great person. From my end, our teams are true heroes for small businesses.”

State Stardom Runs in the Family

Chapman joined the North SBDC as a volunteer in 2014. She moved into a part-time support role in 2015 and accepted a full-time office administrator position the following year. She’s typically the first person new clients interact with when they begin working with that SBDC. Chapman is also a native to San Diego County as well as a second-generation SBDC team member, giving her the unique perspective of having “grown up” at the SBDC, she shared.

The State Star award means more than one might expect to Chapman. Her mother, Wendy Antonetti, received the State Star award too in 2006. Chapman shared how her mom was the first long-term administrator for the North San Diego SBDC when it started with MiraCosta College in 1999.

“So I’ve been in and around the SBDC since I was a teenager,” she said. “I’ve actually known my boss (Shaunak) for more than 20 years! … When my mom retired in 2016 after more than 15 years of loyal service to the SBDC, I applied to fill her enormous shoes. Thankfully, I was given the opportunity to continue her dedicated work I still enjoy to this day.”

Your Free, Loyal Business Partner

Chapman attested to the integrity and hard work put forth by the dedicated team with whom she serves.

“It’s been quite a roller coaster,” she reflected on the last year and a half. “When the pandemic hit, we scrambled to quickly begin meeting the needs of so many small businesses who were suffering. All of that, while transitioning our offices to a 100% virtual setting without any type of preparation.

“With the guidance of our outstanding leadership, the San Diego & Imperial SBDC Network pulled together and worked as a team in ways which we never have before, and I’m proud to have been a part of that. It was not an easy feat and has been one of the most challenging and unpredictable times of my career, without a doubt.”

The SBDC exists to help entrepreneurs. Small business owners can reach out to get assigned a business advisor, who can work with owners at no cost. Use SDIVSBDC.org to find the closest SBDC or call 619-482-6391 if needed. The SBDC website also has other information available such as live online workshops and on-demand training, or get an advisor via SDIVSBDC.org/advising to have a partner in your business efforts as well as ensure you know your latest COVID-19 funding options.

More About the SBDC

The San Diego & Imperial SBDC Network hosted by Southwestern College is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (Go-Biz). The SBDC provides free business advising in all realms of how to start, manage and grow a business, and most workshops or training are offered at no cost for small business owners to provide economic impact in our region. The regional SBDC network includes nine service partners across San Diego and Imperial counties.

Services are provided in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Arabic, Farsi, Swahili, Dari and others. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube to stay connected.