Southeast Missouri State University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has added a new small business counselor, Caitlan Hester, to expand its support for entrepreneurs and business owners throughout Southeast Missouri.
The Missouri SBDC at SEMO provides coaching and resources to help entrepreneurs through their journey from starting to growing their businesses. In her new role, Hester will work one-on-one with clients to develop business plans, create financial projections, refine strategies and connect them with valuable resources.
Hester brings a diverse background and entrepreneurial spirit to the role. She previously launched her own school in Costa Rica, created a hyper-local newsletter for the Southeast Missouri region and worked as a content editor for a global digital engineering company. Her broad experience in education, communication and business development gives her a unique perspective on supporting small business growth.
“We’re very excited to expand the SBDC team and increase our capacity to work with businesses across the region,” said Jakob Pallesen, SBDC Director. “Small businesses are vital to our economy. They have an incredible impact on job creation, innovation, talent development, opportunities for the workforce, as well as directly impacting our regional culture and sense of place.”
The Missouri SBDC in the Southeast Region consists of two centers, one at SEMO and one at the Farmington Chamber of Commerce, serving 19 counties across Southeast Missouri. Before Hester’s addition, there were just two counselors serving the region. This year, the Southeast SBDC team has helped launch more than 20 new businesses, secure more than $2.5 million in funding, create over 85 new jobs and hosted 40 business workshops.
To learn more about how the Missouri SBDC supports local entrepreneurs, visit sbdc.missouri.edu.