Sarah Kearns, a long-time consultant for the Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC), recently joined the organization as their business advisor of strategic projects.
Sarah comes to VtSBDC with two decades of experience as a business advisor. After completing her MBA at Babson College in 2001, Sarah worked for a number of startups in the Boston area, with a focus on marketing and business development.
“I fell in love with working for and with entrepreneurs,” she said. She and her family relocated to Vermont in 2005. “Vermont worked for me because it was a state that supported entrepreneurship and small business,” she said.
Soon after the move, she met Linda Rossi, VtSBDC’s State Director.
“I was astonished that free business advising was available from a group of such accomplished advisors,” she said. For the past nine next years, she has worked for VtSBDC as a contractor, providing business advising and training services to entrepreneurs around the state.
“Working with young entrepreneurs has been my focus for a while,” she said. She coaches entrepreneurs and teams participating in the Launch VT collegiate pitch competition.
In her new role, Sarah will provide one-on-one business advising while working to enhance VtSBDC’s statewide presence in several key areas. “We’re trying to look for places where we can make more connections and help serve the market,” she said.
Incubator spaces are a logical start. Sarah will be the liaison between VtSBDC and co-working spaces around Vermont, making sure that entrepreneurs are aware of available services and support. Along with her continued work with young entrepreneurs, she’ll also help Vermont businesses determine whether they’re export ready and how to access available resources to help them through the process.
The VtSBDC is excited that Sarah has come on board as a full-time employee. “She has global marketing experience and is passionate about entrepreneurship,” VtSBDC State Director Linda Rossi said. “We’re thrilled to have her.”
VtSBDC offers one-on-one, no-cost, confidential advising to business owners to assist with a wide range of general management issues, including: finance, marketing, human resources and strategic planning. www.vtsbdc.org