MADISON, Wis. – Mark Lange, executive director of the University of Wisconsin-Extension entrepreneurship and economic development division, announced Jim Mishefske as the new state director of the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The Wisconsin SBDC serves the entire state through 12 campus-based centers and three specialty centers. 

Mishefske has worked for the SBDC based at UW-Eau Claire since 2004, the last four years as director. Prior to his service with the SBDC, he worked in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls in the private sector. 

“Jim helped build a regional collaborative model in Northwest Wisconsin, and we see great potential for replicating that model statewide,” Lange said, noting that the U.S. Small Business Administration honored Mishefske with a 2013 Small Business Development Center Service Excellence Award, in part, because of the partnerships he developed with Northwest Wisconsin economic development organizations. 

Mishefske expressed enthusiasm about the role of the SBDC in the state. “I look forward to providing leadership as we increase our business outreach through collaboration with partners in business and economic development,” Mishefske said. “I envision a network that provides Wisconsin’s business owners and entrepreneurs easy, local access to SBDC expertise and innovative tools for improving, growing and starting their businesses.” 

Mishefske will transition from his current role in Eau Claire to the Wisconsin SBDC director role based in Madison over the next several weeks. In his new position, Mishefske will be responsible for coordinating all of the SBDC locations throughout the state and for working with other public and private organizations focused on economic development and entrepreneurism.

November 6, 2013
Contact: Kaia Fowler 
608-263-7805
kristina.fowler@uwex.edu

Click here to view the press release.