Advantage Magazine | June 2023

Community News

New Small Business Development Center Director at DEED Director will help catalyze and grow the state’s small business community

The Department of Employment and Economic Development

Prior to this new role at DEED, Donahue served as the Small Business Development Center Director at the University of Wisconsin-Superior for eight years. While there, he focused on developing a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem that focuses on developing strategic partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and in-depth client insight. Donahue has been involved in numerous professional organizations and boards, including the Entrepreneur Fund, Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board, Northwest Wisconsin Educators for Regional Development, Visions Northwest Regional Economic Development Group, and more. He holds a Master of Business Administration and Master of Business Leadership from the College of Saint Scholastica. He also is a Certified Economic Developer through the International Economic Development Council.

(DEED) announced Andy Donahue as the new Small

Business Development Center (SBDC) Director. Donahue will lead Minnesota’s SBDC program by working with SBDC’s regional centers, entrepreneurs and small businesses to help catalyze and grow the state’s

Andy Donahue

small business community. He will also work collaboratively with other small businesses programs and services, both internal at DEED and external, and will provide leadership of the SBDC network by overseeing and advocating for SBDC services.

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