2026 Small Business Center Network Excellence Awards Highlight Resilience, Innovation and Community Impact

From rebuilding after Hurricane Helene to launching businesses that meet local needs, the recipients of the 2026 Small Business Center Network Excellence Awards demonstrate the resilience, innovation and determination of North Carolina’s entrepreneurs. Their stories also highlight the critical role community college Small Business Centers play in helping businesses overcome challenges, pursue opportunities and strengthen local economies.

When Hurricane Helene swept through western North Carolina, Mountain Vista Window Washing and artist Andrew Beck faced significant setbacks. The storm destroyed Mountain Vista’s garage and storage facility, along with Beck’s Asheville studio. Both entrepreneurs were forced to navigate the challenges of rebuilding while finding ways to keep their businesses moving forward.

Elsewhere in the state, entrepreneurs turned ideas into businesses that serve their communities. In Onslow County, a family launched a snack business that created an opportunity for their son to participate. In Bladen County, two entrepreneurs expanded access to services for children and families, addressing needs that previously had limited local options.

These stories are among those celebrated through the North Carolina Small Business Center Network’s 2026 Excellence Awards, which recognize outstanding entrepreneurs, businesses, and the Small Business Center professionals who support their success.

With a Small Business Center located at each of North Carolina’s 58 community colleges, the network provides entrepreneurs with access to counseling, training and resources tailored to their needs. From helping businesses recover after disasters to supporting new ventures and encouraging local economic growth, the network plays a vital role in strengthening communities across the state.

Recognizing leadership across the network 

The 2026 State Director of the Year honor was awarded to two directors whose contributions reach beyond their own centers. Jerry Coleman of Cape Fear Community College recorded the highest number of business starts in the network during the award year. He helped bring Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses to Cape Fear and serves as regional director for nine Small Business Centers in southeastern North Carolina. Coleman also contributed to economic impact reporting, professional development, the ProfitCents Users Group, the SBCN Startup Showdown and mentorship of the Special Forces Administrative Team.

Co-recipient April Priester of Coastal Carolina Community College played a central role in launching the inaugural SBCN Startup Showdown, powered by Wells Fargo. As program manager, she helped provide guidance, training and support across all 58 centers. Priester also helped expand the Pitch It! entrepreneurship model, including securing funding for a pilot at Brunswick Community College. She chairs the SBCN Credentialing Committee, serves on its Leadership Team and previously received the State Director of the Year award in 2023.

The Rookie of the Year award went to Cassidy Didio, director of Stanly Community College’s Small Business Center. Since joining in August 2024, she has expanded entrepreneurship education and access to specialized counseling. During her tenure, the center has reported increases of 150% in business starts, 467% in jobs created and 86% in clients served. Cassidy also launched a Small Business Startup Certification Program that certified 16 entrepreneurs and secured a $5,000 grant for the Stanly Startup Pitch Competition. All three competition winners have since opened businesses.

The Service Excellence Award recognizes work that may be less visible to the public but is important to how the centers operate. The “Special Forces Admin Team” includes Jenna O’Neal of Cape Fear Community College, Juli Spata of Johnston Community College, Daphne Carson of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and Stephanie Parker of Coastal Carolina Community College. They launched the Administrative Quarterly Connect and are developing a centralized collection of training videos, checklists and reference guides to support onboarding, professional development and collaboration across the network.

Liz Isley was named the recipient of the North Carolina Small Business Center Network’s (SBCN) Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her exceptional project management leadership and outstanding contributions to the inaugural SBCN Startup Showdown, powered by Wells Fargo. Isley played an instrumental role in bringing this first-of-its-kind statewide initiative to life, taking ownership of critical responsibilities throughout the planning and execution process. She managed the Startup Showdown Awards Celebration, oversaw the project budget, led marketing and communications efforts to maximize media exposure for the SBCN and NC Community College System, and worked with internal teams to develop the Startup Showdown website. She also established and led weekly project meetings with the State Director and Project Manager to maintain accountability, address challenges, and keep the initiative on schedule. Through her exceptional initiative, attention to detail, collaboration, and ability to anticipate needs and solve problems, Isley helped turn an ambitious vision into a successful statewide program. Her dedication and willingness to go above and beyond exemplify the spirit of the SBCN Distinguished Service Award. 

Helping businesses get started and grow 

Monster Mac Snacks began with a goal shared by Damon and Rosie: to build a business that would provide meaningful employment for their son, Mac, a young adult with autism. They met the Coastal Carolina Community College Small Business Center team at the November 2024 VALOR Summit and later took part in Pitch It! Onslow. With training and guidance from director April Priester and counselor Scott Riggs, the family developed its plans, won first place in the

May 2025 competition and received $8,500 in startup funding. The center also worked with Mac to help him build confidence and prepare for his role in the business. Monster Mac Snacks opened in April 2026 and was recognized in the Business Success Story – Business Startup category. 

Rosario “Rosie” Flores came to James Sprunt Community College’s Small Business Center with an interest in turning her charcuterie boards into a business. She completed entrepreneurship training, wrote a business plan and placed third in the inaugural Pitch It Duplin competition, receiving seed funding. With additional counseling and access to a commercial commissary kitchen, she built Sliced & Diced into a specialty food business serving weddings, corporate events and community organizations. In its second year, the business approximately tripled its revenue and created four jobs. Sliced & Diced also received a Business Startup award. 

The Business Success Story – Most Impact award went to Sprout Educational in Bladen County. Founders Jane Johnson and Brooke McMichael wanted to make educational and therapeutic services more accessible to local children and families. With help from Bladen Community College’s Small Business Center on business planning, finances and growth, they opened a clinic and expanded from three employees at the business’s 2023 launch to 12. Their services include tutoring, educational assessments, speech and language therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy and behavioral consultation. 

Working through setbacks 

Rowen Todd began working with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute’s Small Business Center in 2019. When the COVID-19 pandemic cost Mountain Vista Window Washing nearly 80% of its commercial customers, the center helped him identify residential markets, diversify services and access relief funding. After Hurricane Helene destroyed the company’s garage and storage facility, the center connected him with disaster recovery grants that helped maintain payroll, stabilize operations and support rebuilding. With 24 hours of business counseling and additional assistance over the years, Mountain Vista has grown to 15 full-time employees, five service vehicles and $45,000 invested in specialized equipment. It recently reported its first month with gross sales above $150,000. 

For Andrew Beck, Hurricane Helene destroyed his studio at Foundation Studios in Asheville’s River Arts District. In early 2026, he began working with Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center and counselor Emily Murillo on branding, marketing, his website, pricing and new business opportunities. He also attended the college’s Craft Artist Summit, where he explored opportunities to collaborate with breweries, bands and other creative businesses.  

Beck and Mountain Vista Window Washing were both honored in the Business Success Story – Overcoming Challenges category. 

Programs shaped by local needs 

Central Carolina Community College’s Small Business Center received the Innovation Award – Programs & Seminars for The Business of Child Care Conference. Director Terri Brown organized the September 2025 event in response to a shortage of licensed family child-care providers in Harnett, Lee and Chatham counties. The center worked with county Partnerships for Children, the college’s Early Childhood department and the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services to offer business training alongside a two-day licensure workshop. A $5,000 grant from the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship supported licensure training for 12 participants, and organizers provided on-site child care and access to local zoning officials. 

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College’s Small Business Center received the Innovation Award – Services & Collaboration for Built to Roll: Launching Your Mobile Food Business. The five-hour program brought together the City of Kannapolis, Camino, Cabarrus Health Alliance, fire prevention officials, planning and zoning staff and other partners to help prospective food truck owners understand permitting, inspections, licensing and business planning. With outreach and grant support from Camino, the program also provided bilingual materials and simultaneous Spanish interpretation, expanding access for Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs. It attracted 109 registrants and 53 attendees, and participant feedback inspired a follow-up Permit Application Accelerator. 

Credentialing and years of service 

The Excellence Awards also honored professional development across the network.

Level 1 credentialing recipients were Stephen Lancaster (Cleveland Community College), Stephanie Parker (Coastal Carolina Community College), Elizabeth Stalls (Martin Community College), Ruthie Holloman (Nash Community College), Nathan Moore (Southeastern Community College) and Lesa Hensley (Surry Community College).

Level 2 credentialing recipients were Stephen Lancaster, Ruthie Holloman and Nathan Moore. 

Level 3 credentialing recipients were Jack Dugan (Beaufort County Community College), Joy Wynne (James Sprunt Community College), Quinton Louris (Randolph Community College), Flynne Meares (Richmond Community College) and Esteban Guzman (Wayne Community College). 

Service awards recognized Dr. Jeff Wilke (Craven Community College), Phillip Pappas (Central Carolina Community College), Laura Brown Evans (Edgecombe Community College) and Katie Shorter (Pamlico Community College) for five years; April Scott (Brunswick Community College) and Jerry Coleman (Cape Fear Community College) for 10 years; Jill Sparks (Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College) for 20 years; and Mark Hagenbuch (North Carolina Community Colleges) for 25 years. 

Taken together, the Excellence Awards offer a look at the many ways Small Business Centers contribute to their communities. Sometimes the work begins with a business plan or a training class. Sometimes it means helping an owner sort through a difficult period or bringing several organizations together to address a local need. This year’s recipients represent all of those efforts. 

About the Small Business Center Network : The North Carolina Community College System’s Small Business Center Network operates through all 58 community colleges, offering confidential business counseling, training, technical assistance and resource connections for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. Learn more at www.ncsbc.net. 

About the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS): The North Carolina Community College System is the engine for workforce development in North Carolina and the only public entity dedicated to providing affordable college access to anyone in the state. The System is governed by the NC State Board of Community Colleges with administration from the NC Community College System Office, and support from the NC Community Colleges Foundation, and is powered by the 58 community colleges and their respective foundations. Together, the System serves 600,000 students and awards more than 60,000 degrees, diplomas, and certificates annually. For more information, visit https://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/     

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