The Missouri Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) is honored to announce Sally Williams, of the Missouri SBDC at University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), as the organization’s 2021 State Star! The State Star is an annual recognition to highlight and showcase the exemplary performance of SBDC staff from across the country. Williams will be nationally recognized at the America’s SBDC national conference.

Williams was nominated by her colleagues from across the state. Her advice and counsel for research, technology development and commercialization has earned her respect from her clients, colleagues, and partner organizations.

Williams’s colleagues have described her as having a deep dedication to her work and her clients as well as delivering quality and caring, one-on-one counseling and training facilitation that makes a difference. Some quotes from her clients who she made a huge impact on include:

• “I strongly recommend speaking with Sally Williams in SBDC… She is wonderful and will be able to help guide you on where you’re at and if this is the best mechanism for you to acquire funding.”
• “The highest rating from the evaluation panel for the AIR-TT grant was about your participation as the business mentor for the grant. The NSF panel said that having Sally Williams/SBDC as my mentor gave them confidence, I would get the business guidance I need.”

Williams joined the Missouri SBDC at UMKC team on Oct. 12, 2015. Although, she was no stranger to the center. For several years prior, Sally had been a client and had attended the NewVenture training course. Williams's experience as a client, faculty, and product development commercialization consultant is the strong foundation for the exemplary assistance she offers Missouri SBDC technology commercialization clients. Her real-world perspective and candor with clients and students, along with her genuine passion, competence and caring for each individual she assists, quickly gained her recognition in the greater Kansas City region.

The America’s SBDC Network is hosting an awards ceremony for the 2020 and 2021 State Stars on Wednesday, August 18. Williams (2021) and Mike Adams, 2020 State Star, will be celebrated during this virtual event streamed across the nation and in US territories.

The Missouri SBDC is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.